Hours after receiving the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, María Corina Machado praised the award as recognition of all Venezuelans fighting for freedom. She dedicated the prize to the “suffering people” of Venezuela and to President Trump for supporting her cause.
“This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom. 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 the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy,” Machado wrote on X.
She added, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!”
Nobel Committee Recognizes Her Work
The Nobel Committee awarded Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Machado, 58, is an industrial engineer who lives in hiding. In 2024, Venezuela’s courts blocked her from running for president. This stopped her from challenging President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled since 2013.
Trump and US Support
Trump has long criticized Maduro. The US does not recognize Maduro’s government. The White House criticized the Nobel Committee for awarding the prize to Venezuela, especially after Trump announced progress in Gaza peace talks.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on X: “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”
Maduro’s Controversial Rule
Maduro began his third term in January. His 12 years in power brought economic collapse and social crisis. The US increased its reward for his capture amid international pressure.
The Nobel Committee said, “When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”
Trump Criticizes Obama
Hours before Machado’s win, Trump attacked former President Barack Obama’s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. “He got it for doing nothing,” Trump said. “Obama got a prize—he didn’t even know what for. He got elected, and they gave it to him for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country.”
Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize eight months into his first term. The committee had praised his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”