Venezuela’s María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize; Trump administration slams committee

CAIRO – 10 October 2025: Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her persistent efforts to promote democracy and human rights in her country.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Machado as an example of civilian courage, citing “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

The decision drew sharp criticism from the White House following the announcement, dashing President Donald Trump’s hopes of winning the prize.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that he deserves the award for helping to resolve several conflicts, most recently for his role in halting the Israeli war in Gaza after two years of relentless strikes.

White House spokesperson Steven Cheung accused the Nobel Committee of putting “politics over peace,” lamenting that the award ignored what he characterized as Trump’s ongoing efforts to broker global peace.

“President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives,” said Cheung. He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

The Nobel Committee defended its decision, underscoring that their selection is guided strictly by the principles laid out by Alfred Nobel.