The City Council of Doral, located in Miami-Dade County, has decided to honor Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado by naming a street after her. The newly named “María Corina Machado Way” will be a tribute to her significant contributions and leadership.
This proposal was driven by Councilman Rafael Piñeyro and involves renaming a section of a major thoroughfare in the city. Doral Mayor Christi Fraga expressed that the decision is "a great honor," underscoring that it acknowledges Machado's bravery, perseverance, and dedication to democratic values, as reported by news agency EFE.
The council members shared that Machado has already been informed of this honor, and there's a possibility she may attend the official street naming ceremony, set for a future date.
Doral is part of the Miami metropolitan area in southern Florida, home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States, with approximately a quarter of a million Venezuelan-Americans, many of whom reside in this municipality.
The council's decision coincided with the day Machado had a private lunch with President Donald Trump at the White House. This meeting followed the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3rd, during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in their extradition to New York, where they face drug trafficking charges.
In the aftermath of this operation, Trump has excluded Machado from the formal political transition process in Venezuela. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a "courageous voice" for Venezuelans but noted that Washington believes she lacks sufficient support to lead the transition.
President Trump confirmed that during their meeting, Machado presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which he described as "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect." Machado noted that the symbolic handing over of the medal was a nod to Trump's commitment to freedom and the Venezuelan cause.
This visit marked a turning point in their relationship, following Trump's previous doubts about Machado's capability to lead the transition. Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her role in the democratic resistance against Maduro's regime and her advocacy for human rights in Latin America.
Key Developments in Doral's Street Naming for María Corina Machado
Why did Doral choose to name a street after María Corina Machado?
Doral chose to honor María Corina Machado for her leadership as a Venezuelan opposition figure and her advocacy for democracy, which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.
What significance does the Venezuelan community have in Doral?
Doral hosts a significant Venezuelan community, with around a quarter of a million residents of Venezuelan descent, making it one of the largest in the U.S.
How has María Corina Machado's relationship with President Trump evolved?
Their relationship has evolved following a private meeting where Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, marking a shift from past doubts about her leadership capabilities.