Nobel Laureate Machado Credits Trump, US Support in Daring Escape from Venezuela

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has hailed US President Donald Trump for his support, saying the US government played a crucial role in helping her escape Venezuela to accept her award in Norway. In a press conference in Oslo, Machado expressed gratitude to those who risked their lives to bring her safely to the Norwegian capital. Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, had been in hiding since January, evading the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Her dramatic escape from Venezuela, which took three days, involved dodging checkpoints, wearing a disguise, and being smuggled out of the country by sea. The Nobel Institute described Machado's journey as 'extreme danger,' and she ultimately missed the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony by hours, with her daughter accepting the award on her behalf. Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela, where she plans to continue fighting for democracy, even if it means going into hiding again. 'I will be with my people, and they will not know where I am,' she said. The US government's support for Machado's escape has been praised by the Nobel laureate, who credited President Trump's actions as 'decisive' in her decision to accept the award. Machado's return to Venezuela is expected to be complicated, with the government having declared her a fugitive if she left the country.