Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has announced that she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump during a visit to the White House, stating it was an acknowledgment of his dedication to her nation’s liberation.

“Today marks a significant moment for us Venezuelans,” she remarked after her first personal meeting with Trump, just weeks following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in Caracas and his indictment on drug-trafficking charges.

Trump expressed his appreciation in a social media update, calling the gesture “a wonderful display of mutual respect”.

Nevertheless, the US president has refrained from endorsing Machado as the new leader of Venezuela, despite claims from her movement that they triumphed in the highly disputed elections of 2024.

Instead, Trump has been engaging with the current acting leader of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president.

He described his meeting with Machado as a “great honor”, calling her a “wonderful woman who has endured so much”.

Upon exiting the White House, Machado addressed supporters gathered outside, telling them in Spanish, as reported by the Associated Press: “We can count on President Trump.”

“I presented the president of the United States with the Nobel Peace Prize medal,” Machado later informed reporters in English, referring to it as “a recognition of his distinctive commitment to our freedom”.

Trump, who frequently mentions his aspiration to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, expressed disappointment when it was awarded to Machado and she opted to accept the accolade last year.

The BBC has contacted the White House for a statement.

Machado indicated last week her intention to share it with Trump, but the Nobel Committee later clarified that the medal is not transferrable.

“Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be rescinded, shared, or given to others,” the committee stated last week. “The decision is irrevocable and remains in effect permanently.”

When requested for a response to Machado’s statements, the committee directed the BBC to their prior statement.

Before the White House meeting on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Center posted on X that “a medal may change ownership, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot”.

In her comments, Machado recounted how the Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in America’s Revolutionary War, gifted a medal featuring George Washington’s likeness to Simon Bolivar, a founding figure of modern Venezuela.

The gift symbolized “the camaraderie” between her nation and the US “in their battle for freedom against oppression,” Machado stated.

“And two centuries in history, the citizens of Bolivar are returning to the descendant of Washington a medal – specifically a Nobel Peace Prize medal – as a tribute to his exceptional commitment to our freedom,” she added.

Machado also met with US senators during her trip to Washington, where her comments to journalists were drowned out by supporters chanting “María, presidente” and waving flags from Venezuela.

She was anticipated to use her meeting with Trump to persuade him that supporting Rodríguez’s interim administration was a misstep, and that her opposition coalition ought to oversee this transitional process.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters as the Thursday meeting was happening that Machado is “a remarkable and brave voice for many Venezuelan citizens” and that Trump “was eager for this meeting and anticipated an open and positive dialogue” regarding the current situation in Venezuela.

Trump has previously labeled Machado as a “freedom fighter”, yet dismissed the idea of assigning her to lead Venezuela after Maduro’s ousting, contending that she lacks adequate domestic support.

Since Maduro’s capture on January 3, the Trump administration has swiftly acted to overhaul Venezuela’s oil industry, which had been under US sanctions. On Wednesday, an American official stated that the US had completed its first transaction of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500 million (£373 million).

Oil tankers suspected of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil have also been taken by the US, with American forces reporting they had boarded a sixth tanker on Thursday.

A Venezuelan government envoy is scheduled to travel to Washington on Thursday to engage with US representatives and initiate steps towards reopening the country’s embassy, as reported by the New York Times.

The emissary is said to be a close ally and confidant of Rodríguez, who has been characterized as “exceptionally cooperative” by the White House.

On Thursday, Rodríguez delivered the annual Message to the Nation address in Caracas, in which she voiced her readiness to participate in meetings in Washington as well.

“If I ever have to go to Washington as acting president, I will do so with my head held high, walking confidently, not crawling,” she proclaimed, urging the nation to “not be fearful of diplomacy” with the US.

Trump and Rodríguez also communicated by phone on Wednesday, with Trump later describing his counterpart on social media as “a fantastic person”. Rodríguez, for her part, characterized the call as “constructive and polite”, marked by “mutual respect.”

President Donald Trump claims that Tehran has “no intention” to execute demonstrators, yet he has not excluded the possibility of US military intervention in response to its brutal suppression of anti-government protests.

The US and UK are both scaling back their presence at the Al-Udeid air base located in Qatar. Officials informed CBS, which collaborates with the BBC in the US, that a partial withdrawal of American forces is merely a “precautionary measure”.

Iran closed its airspace to almost all flights for five hours overnight, prompting several airlines to announce rerouting their flights away from Iran.

The UK Foreign Office has also temporarily shut down the British embassy in Tehran, which will now function remotely, as stated by a government representative.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump mentioned that his administration received “solid information” indicating that “the killings in Iran are halting, and no plans for executions exist”.

In response to a reporter’s inquiry, Trump noted that he was informed by “very credible sources” about these developments, expressing hope that such reports were accurate.

Initial protests sparked by the plummeting value of the Iranian currency started in late December but quickly escalated into a broader crisis challenging the legitimacy of Iran’s clerical leadership.

Earlier, Trump had cautioned of “very strong measures” against Iran should its government proceed with executing protesters, following reports that a 26-year-old individual arrested amid the protests was sentenced to death.

Erfan Soltani was supposed to be executed on Wednesday, according to his family who spoke to BBC Persian. They later informed the Norway-based Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw that his execution had been delayed.

Iranian officials have allegedly not provided any additional details regarding Soltani’s case, only mentioning that he was apprehended related to a protest.

The owner of a clothing store was arrested in Fardis, a city located just west of Tehran, last week.

In light of potential execution reports, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remarked that “hanging is not an option” and assured that there would be “no hanging today or in the near future”.

In comments to Fox News, he also cautioned the US president against “repeating the same error as in June,” adding: “If you pursue a failed strategy, expect the same outcome.” In June 2025, the US targeted three of Iran’s nuclear facilities over suspicions that Tehran might use them to create a nuclear weapon.

In addition to the temporary closure of the British embassy in Tehran, the US Mission to Saudi Arabia has recommended its staff and citizens to “exercise heightened caution and minimize unnecessary travel to military sites in the area”.

Italy and Poland have issued advisories urging their nationals to depart from Iran, while Germany has suggested that air operators refrain from entering Iranian airspace due to potential risks from “heightening conflicts and anti-aircraft weapons”.

The German airline Lufthansa confirmed it would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace “until further notice”.

The US embassy in Doha has recommended its staff to practice heightened vigilance and restrict non-essential travel to the Al-Udeid air base, while the Qatari government stated it would persist in “implementing all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of its citizens and residents”.

Al-Udeid stands as the largest US military installation in the Middle East, housing around 10,000 personnel and about 100 UK staff. It remains uncertain how many will be departing.

Earlier this week, the US president encouraged Iranians to “CONTINUE PROTESTING” via a message on his Truth Social platform, assuring that “ASSISTANCE IS ON ITS WAY”.

Trump has shown hesitance to openly back any adversaries of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that “we’re not quite there yet” during a Reuters interview on Wednesday.

When asked about potentially supporting Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, Trump remarked “I’m unsure if his country would accept his leadership, but if they did, that would be acceptable to me”.

“He appears very appealing, but I’m not certain how he would be perceived in his homeland,” Trump added.

Numerous Iranian protesters called for Pahlavi’s return during the protests that commenced over three weeks ago; however, determining the depth of his support within the nation remains challenging.

Trump also indicated that the Iranian regime could collapse due to the ongoing protests, although he mentioned that “any regime has the potential to fail”.

Tehran has enforced a national internet blackout since last Thursday as authorities intensified their crackdown on anti-government protests.

The BBC and the majority of other international media outlets are also unable to report from within Iran, complicating the process of gathering and confirming information.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it has confirmed the deaths of 2,435 protesters, including 13 children. Additionally, the group stated that another 882 fatalities are currently under investigation.