After the meeting that Maria Corina Machado held with President Donald Trump at the White House on January 15, the Venezuelan opposition leader mentioned General Marquis de Lafayette, which sparked interest about an episode historical connection between the United States, France, and Latin America.

In a brief conversation with the media, in which she did not provide details about her meeting with Trump, Machado referred to this passage to explain the symbolic significance of having presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to the US president, alluding to a gesture that occurred more than two centuries ago and was laden with political meaning.

In this regard, she recounted that “200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with the face of George Washington,” and recalled that the Venezuelan liberator kept this object for the rest of his life.

With this comparison, she sought to draw a parallel between two historical moments separated by centuries, but united by the idea of ??freedom and the fight against tyranny.

Who was Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette?

Gilbert du Motier was a French military officer and politician born in 1757. He is remembered as one of the most important foreign figures in the American Revolutionary War. According to El Universo, at a young age he volunteered to fight alongside the American colonists against British rule, motivated by republican ideals and the desire for liberty.

During the war, Lafayette became one of George Washington's most trusted advisors.

His close relationship with Washington was not only military, but also personal and political, leading him to be seen as a bridge between Europe and the nascent American nation. Later, he also participated in the early years of the French Revolution, solidifying his image as a champion of libertarian causes.

Years after American independence,Lafayette reappeared in Latin American history. According to historical records, the Marquis de Lafayette presented Simon Bolivar with a medallion bearing the image of George Washington, commissioned by George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of the first US president. The presentation took place in Peru, and the medallion became a personal possession of the Liberator, visible in several official portraits. From Maria Corina Machado's perspective, the Nobel medal awarded to Trump served as a symbol of gratitude for his support of the Venezuelan democratic cause. It was not a formal transfer of the prize, something the Norwegian Nobel Institute reiterated is not possible, but rather a symbolic act laden with political and historical significance. By invoking Washington, Bolivar, and Lafayette, the opposition leader appealed to figures who represent foundational struggles against regimes considered oppressive in their time. You may be interested in: Video reveals Maria Corina Machado's rescue to leave Venezuela and receive the Nobel Peace Prize; Trump maintains his opinion that Machado lacks support to lead Venezuela: White House; "You can count on Trump": this is what Maria Corina Machado said after her meeting at the White House

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