Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was recently awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize which she dedicated her victory to President Donald Trump. This gesture came as Trump missed out on being nominated this year with the U.S. president coveting the prestigious award. Machado stated her dedication of her award to Trump is in thanks for his “decisive support” of Venezuela’s democratic struggle. According to Trump, Machado called Trump to say he deserved the award and while positioning him as a strong contender for the 2026 Nobel Prize.
Nobel Winner Calls Trump to Share Honor
Machado phoned Trump shortly after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize announcement on October 10, 2025. During the call, she informed him she accepted the award in his honor. Trump spoke on their exchange during a White House press conference, telling reporters: “The person who actually got the Nobel prize today, called me and said, I’m accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserve it. A very nice thing to do.” But Trump assured reporters he did not demand the award from Machado.
Machado thanked Trump for his efforts not just in the Americas but worldwide in advocating for peace, freedom, and democracy. She said in a post on social media website X: “We are on the threshold of victory, and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy.”
Venezuelan Leader Receives Historic Recognition
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless advocacy of democratic rights in Venezuela. At 58 years old, the conservative politician leads the Vente Venezuela opposition party. She has championed transparent elections and liberal economic reforms throughout her political career.
Machado received the award for promoting democracy amid Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. The Nobel Committee praised her as someone who “keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness”. Her work focuses on achieving a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in her troubled nation. Machado unified Venezuela’s deeply divided political opposition around demands for free elections. She became the driving force behind opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in the disputed 2024 presidential election. Evidence suggests Gonzalez won by a landslide, but Maduro claimed victory without presenting proof.
The Nobel laureate has remained in hiding since August 2024 due to threats from Maduro’s government. She briefly appeared at a protest before Maduro’s January 2025 inauguration, during which authorities temporarily detained her. Despite the risks, she chose to stay in Venezuela to continue her fight.
Trump Misses 2025 Award Despite Campaign
Trump actively campaigned for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize but ultimately did not receive it. The nomination deadline fell on January 31, just days after his second presidential inauguration. Several world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and governments from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Rwanda, and Cambodia, indicated support for his nomination.
The president had expressed hope that his role in brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement would secure him the award. He told reporters he believed he deserved recognition for settling multiple international conflicts during his time in office. Trump acknowledged his slim chances before the announcement. He told military leaders it would be a significant offence to the nation if he missed out. Despite his claims to have ended 7 wars, he speculated that they might find a reason not to give him the award.
White House Initially Criticizes Committee Decision
Before the phone call, the Trump administration sharply criticized the Nobel Committee’s decision. White House communications director Steven Cheung stated that the committee “proved they place politics over peace”. Cheung stated that Trump would continue brokering peace deals and ending wars despite the snub from the Noble Committee. The White House communications director described Trump as having “the heart of a humanitarian”. The spokesman argued that Trump’s diplomatic achievements warranted recognition regardless of the committee’s decision. However, Trump later softened his tone after speaking with Machado personally.
Machado Praises Trump’s Venezuela Policy
Machado has consistently praised Trump as a “visionary” since his re-election in January and is an outspoken supporter of Trump. She describes him as Venezuela’s “biggest opportunity” for regime change. She supports his administration’s efforts to diplomatically and economically isolate President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The opposition leader believes the Trump administration’s sanctions on Venezuela U.S. sanctions are necessary to stop Maduro’s grip on power.
In interviews earlier this year, Machado thanked Trump for his decisive support. She told reporters that Trump’s approach represents “the right thing at the right time.” Machado believes the Venezuelan people feel assured they are not alone in their struggle.
Secretary Rubio’s Role in Venezuela Policy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, and Machado have allegedly been in close contact, according to Machado. Rubio has strongly influenced Trump’s Venezuela policy. Rubio previously signed a letter nominating Machado for the Nobel Peace Prize alongside 7 other Republican lawmakers. The August letter praised her “courageous and selfless leadership” and commitment to democratic values. Rubio has consistently condemned Maduro’s authoritarian regime throughout his political career. Machado previously claimed she communicated regularly with Rubio about strategic planning for a post-Maduro Venezuela.
Venezuela Faces Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
Venezuela was once a relatively prosperous democracy but has descended into a brutal authoritarian state. The country suffers from deep poverty, with the majority of its citizens struggling to meet basic needs. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country seeking better opportunities elsewhere. The Maduro government has systematically suppressed opposition through election rigging, legal prosecution, and imprisonment. United Nations investigators documented arbitrary detentions, torture, and crimes against humanity committed by state security forces. International human rights organizations continue reporting severe violations to this day.
Opposition Challenges Contested Election Results
Machado won Venezuela’s opposition primary in 2023 but was later barred from running in the 2024 presidential election. She supported alternative candidate Edmundo González Urrutia after authorities blocked her candidacy. The opposition collected voting records showing González won the election decisively. Records indicate that Urrutia actually won the majority vote by a landslide.
However, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner without providing detailed vote counts. The opposition published tally sheets from 80% of electronic voting machines online as evidence of fraud. International observers widely criticized the election as neither free nor fair.
Trump Claims Multiple Peace Achievements
Trump has repeatedly claimed he ended 7 to 8 wars during his presidency. He lists conflicts between Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, Rwanda-Congo, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Thailand-Cambodia, Serbia-Kosovo, and Egypt-Ethiopia as resolved disputes. He also claims that his brokering of the contentious Israel-Hamas ceasefire also adds further justification to warrant a Nobel Prize consideration. Trump has been clear of his ambitions on securing the Nobel Peace Prize since taking office back in January.
Foreign policy experts acknowledge Trump brokered some ceasefires but question whether all situations qualify as settled wars. Several conflicts Trump mentioned were not full-scale wars to begin with. Additionally, some agreements have faced implementation challenges despite initial progress toward peace. For instance, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has already seen multiple violations from Israel. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has not come to a steady resolve and may expand to a wider regional conflict between NATO allies and Russia.
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Nobel Prize Nomination Process Explained
The Norwegian Nobel Committee follows strict procedures for selecting laureates each year. Qualified nominators include members of national assemblies, university professors in relevant fields, previous laureates, and members of international courts. Anyone meeting the criteria can submit nominations without invitation.
Nominations must reach the committee by January 31 annually. The committee reviews all valid submissions and prepares a shortlist for detailed examination. Independent advisers prepare reports on selected candidates throughout spring and summer. The five-member committee typically decides on the winner by early October.
Four U.S. Presidents Previously Honored
Only 4 American presidents have ever received the Nobel Peace Prize throughout history. Theodore Roosevelt won in 1906 for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. Woodrow Wilson received the award in 1919 for his work establishing the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter earned the prize in 2002 for decades of promoting human rights and democracy through The Carter Center. Barack Obama won in 2009 for strengthening international diplomacy and cooperation between nations. Obama’s selection sparked controversy since he received the award shortly after taking office.
Trump Remains Candidate for 2026 Prize
Trump automatically qualifies as a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize based on existing nominations. World leaders who nominated him after the January 31 deadline had their submissions counted toward next year’s consideration. Israeli Speaker Mike Johnson and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced plans to jointly nominate Trump for 2026.
The nomination push reflects growing recognition of Trump’s role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Johnson stated that Trump deserves the award more than anyone else and pledged to rally international parliamentary support. The actual impact of these efforts remains uncertain given the committee’s independent decision-making process.
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