OSLO, Norway (Diya TV) — Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Friday, beating out high-profile contender U.S. President Donald Trump. Machado, a longtime advocate for democracy, was honored for her efforts to promote democratic rights and push for a peaceful transition in Venezuela. The award drew global attention this year, largely because of Trump’s public campaign for the prize. Trump claimed credit for resolving multiple international conflicts and touted himself as a leading candidate. His efforts, however, fell short.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee called Machado “a brave and committed champion of peace” who has “kept the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” She has emerged as a unifying figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, advocating for citizens’ rights and democratic freedoms under an authoritarian regime.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina 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,” the committee said.
Machado has faced significant obstacles in her political career. She was barred from running against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and has spent the past year in hiding due to threats from the government.
In an unexpected move, Machado mentioned Trump in her acceptance message on social media, thanking him for his support of Venezuela’s democratic movement. “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,” she wrote.
She also dedicated the prize to the Venezuelan people and praised Trump’s “decisive support” for the country’s democratic cause. Machado has backed U.S. military pressure on Maduro as a necessary step toward political change. Trump previously supported her during a brief detention in January 2025 during an anti-government protest.
Trump had received multiple nominations from countries including Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Thailand, Armenia, and Cambodia. He claimed to have resolved eight conflicts in nine months, including disputes between India and Pakistan—a claim India has denied. Analysts suggested Trump’s bold claims and controversial approaches may have hindered his chances.
So far, Trump has not directly responded to Machado’s win. He shared a screenshot of her social media post without comment. The White House reacted cautiously, with Director of Communications Steven Cheung framing the decision as “politics over peace,” while reaffirming Trump’s commitment to making peace deals and ending wars.
The Nobel Committee emphasized its independence, stressing that the prize goes to individuals demonstrating genuine courage and commitment to peace. Machado’s recognition has drawn criticism from several world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, who questioned the decision.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize attracted 338 nominations, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations.
