Summary
- White House criticized the Nobel Committee’s choice of Venezuelan opposition leader.
- Donald Trump was a strong contender for the 2025 Peace Prize.
- Prize awarded to María Corina Machado for promoting democracy in Venezuela.
Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela was given the yearly prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which cited "courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist" authoritarian authority.
"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,"
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X.
"The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace."
Trump announced a ceasefire and hostage agreement to stop the battle in Gaza only this week, and he has run a vigorous campaign for the award.
The Republican president posted three videos of supporters applauding the Gaza deal on his Truth Social account on Friday morning, but he has not yet responded to the Nobel decision.
The White House response framed the award as overlooking Trump's contributions to peace in favor of a contentious foreign political figure.
What reasons did the Nobel Committee give for choosing María Corina Machado?
Machado served as a unifying figure for the fractured Venezuelan political opposition, who largely agreed on opposing free elections and representative government.
Her fierce opposition to the militarisation of Venezuelan society and her strong commitment to a peaceful democratic transition.
The humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela under authoritarian rule, where the vast majority of citizens live in poverty while the state represses all opposition.
She is a symbol of civilian courage throughout Latin America and works to defend the principles of popular rule, free expression, and peaceful democracy.