On Thursday, January 15, US President Donald Trump will hold a meeting at the White House with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, CNN reports .

Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Scanpix, Pool Photo via AP
Machado's visit to Washington comes at a tense moment: after a lightning operation by US special forces in Caracas on January 3, during which Nicolás Maduro was captured, Trump unexpectedly refused to recognize Machado as the legitimate successor to power. Instead, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez temporarily took charge of the country.
Trump publicly expressed doubt about Machado's political weight, stating that it would be difficult for her to govern Venezuela as she allegedly lacks popular support and respect. Additionally, media reported that Trump's annoyance was caused by Machado's decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.
The situation around the prize took on a curious character: Trump hinted that Machado should gift him this award. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee was forced to issue an official statement that the Peace Prize is personal and cannot be transferred to another individual.
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