At the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado delivered what many are calling a historic testimony of courage, conviction and geopolitical shift.
Recently escaped from Nicolás Maduro’s collapsing socialist regime prior to his capture, Machado declared that Venezuela now stands “at the threshold of freedom” after years of tyranny, imprisonment and mass suffering.
Looking across the room at American leaders and journalists, she described her presence as nothing short of miraculous.
“It seems like a miracle to be sitting here in a free country,” she said. “What has happened in the last years and especially in the last days, it seems like a miracle.”
Nobel Peace Prize Gesture: A Defiant and Symbolic Moment
In a move that stunned both international observers and the Nobel establishment, Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during their meeting in Washington this week. According to USA Today, the presentation was intended as a tribute to Trump’s role in supporting Venezuela’s transition and backing democratic restoration. Fox News reported that Machado proceeded with the presentation despite the Institute’s objections. Trump received the medal and called the gesture an honor.
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“I presented the President of the United States the medal … the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado stated, according to Fox News. “I told him, ‘Listen to this, 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simón Bolívar a medal with George Washington’s face on it…”He kept that medal for the rest of his life. Actually, when you see his portraits, you can see the medal.”
Trump publicly responded to their meeting by writing on Truth Social:
It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!
A People United by Conviction and Love
In her speech at the Heritage Foundation, Machado emphasized that Venezuela’s struggle is not merely political but deeply moral and rooted in human dignity.
“We have proven that a people determined to be free, even without resources… even facing the most cruel tyranny, can prevail,” she said. “The force of conviction and the force of love is the strongest of all.”
She defined that love as love of children, love of country and love of freedom:
“It’s all about human dignity. It’s all about justice. It’s all about love… and love for our children, love for our country, and love for freedom.”
Prayer and Perseverance in a Harrowing Escape
Machado also spoke openly about prayer during her escape, a detail that gave her narrative a spiritual dimension:
“I am a Catholic… During my trip I prayed a lot.”
Her escape involved dangerous conditions at sea after GPS and satellite communications failed, a moment she described as harrowing and defining.
The Role of the United States and President Trump
Machado expressed deep gratitude toward the United States and to President Trump for his Jan. 3 action to dismantle Maduro’s power structure.
“It took a lot of courage to do what he did,” she said. “He cares for the people of Venezuela. He told me that yesterday.”
She stressed that Venezuelans now know they are not alone.
A New Hemisphere Emerging
Machado believes a geopolitical realignment is underway that could reshape the Western Hemisphere:
“For the first time in history we will have the Americas free of communism, dictatorship, and narco-terrorism… This is equivalent to the fall of the Berlin Wall in the Americas.”
She predicted that a post-Maduro Venezuela will become “the best ally the United States has ever had in the Americas.”
With unshakable confidence, she ended with a promise: “Venezuela is going to be free.”
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
