Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Thursday that she handed President Trump her Nobel Peace Prize during a meeting at the White House, confirming a highly symbolic gesture that followed weeks of public discussion about the award.

“I presented the president of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters on Capitol Hill.

An image obtained by The Post showed Trump standing in the Oval Office with the framed medal, while Machado stood beside him during the meeting.

The inscription on the medal read: “To President Donald J. Trump. In gratitude for your extraordinary leadership in promoting peace through strength, advancing diplomacy, and defending liberty and prosperity.”

It continued, “Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.”

“The courage of America, and its President Donald J. Trump, will never be forgotten by the Venezuelan people. “

Trump publicly acknowledged the gift shortly afterward, thanking Machado in a post on social media.

“It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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!”

Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last October for her campaign to restore democracy in Venezuela and challenge the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro, said the presentation of the medal was accompanied by a message rooted in shared history.

“I told him this: 200 years ago, Gen. [Marquis de] Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington’s face on it. Bolivar kept that medal the rest of his life,” Machado said.

“It was given by Gen. Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the people of the US and the people of Venezuela in their fight against tyranny. 200 years on in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of George Washington a medal, in this case a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” she continued.

Known among supporters as Venezuela’s “Iron Lady,” Machado said she offered Trump the prize “in recognition of his unique place with our freedom.”

Earlier Thursday, Trump hosted Machado for a private lunch at the White House, marking the first time the two had met in person.

Machado remained at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for approximately two and a half hours during the visit.

Trump, who has spoken openly about his interest in the Nobel Peace Prize and has received multiple nominations, told Fox News host Sean Hannity last week that it would be a “great honor” to receive the medal from Machado.

In previous remarks, Machado had indicated she was prepared to give the prize to Trump or share it with him.

“I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to, to give it to him and share it with him,” Machado said Monday.

“What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition.”

Before the White House meeting took place, the Nobel Prize Committee weighed in on the discussion surrounding the medal, stating: “A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.”

Despite the cordial meeting, Trump has previously expressed skepticism about Machado’s ability to govern Venezuela following the capture of Maduro and has instead voiced support for interim president Delcy Rodríguez. He referred to Maduro’s former vice president as a “terrific person” after speaking with Rodriguez by phone on Wednesday.

{Matzav.com}