Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate dedicates award to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, dedicated the honour to US President Donald Trump, praising his support for the Venezuelan freedom cause.

“This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” Machado wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

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…

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025

In the post, Machado noted that the country is 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." 

"I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!” she noted. 

Donald Trump had led a public campaign to win the award, and the White House responded to this year's choice by saying the Nobel Committee had "proved they place politics over peace"

In remarks on the evening of October 10, Trump confirmed he had spoken with Machado after the announcement.

“The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it,’” Trump said. “A very nice thing to do. I didn’t, I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she might have. She was very nice,” he joked.

“I’ve been helping her along the way,” he added. “They need a lot of help in Venezuela, it’s a basic disaster. So, and you could also say it was given out for ’24 and I was running for office in ‘24.”

When asked about alleged pressure from Trump or political motivations, Nobel Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes firmly denied any influence, stating: “We base our decision only on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”

Machado, who has long been a leading voice of Venezuela’s democratic opposition, has continued to push for international support while remaining in hiding inside the country. Despite repeated threats of arrest and disqualification from public office by the Maduro regime, she has refused to abandon her efforts.

Her resolve has won praise from many within the Trump administration. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Machado as “the personification of resilience, tenacity, and patriotism.”

Relations between the Trump administration and President Nicolás Maduro have grown increasingly hostile. In a sharp escalation, the US has deployed multiple warships to patrol the waters off Venezuela’s coast, aiming to intercept vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

US military strikes on suspected drug boats have resulted in at least 21 deaths, intensifying diplomatic tensions and drawing criticism from human rights observers.

By Sabina Mammadli