Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado who had been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in a public statement expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for what she described as his contributions to peace, freedom, and democracy around the world.
In an interview with BBC, Machado said she used a congratulatory phone call with Trump to relay her thanks on behalf of the Venezuelan people. “I told him how grateful the Venezuelan people are for what he’s doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world for peace, for freedom, for democracy,” she said. The Nobel Committee cited her “courageous work promoting democratic rights … and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Trump confirmed that he spoke with Machado following the prize announcement, stating she told him she accepted it “in honor of you, because you really deserved it.” He added he had not asked her to redirect the award but speculated she might have done so.
Earlier, the White House criticized the Nobel Committee’s decision, alleging the committee had put “politics over peace.” Machado herself later dedicated the award to both the Venezuelan people and Trump, tweeting: “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!”
Trump has long campaigned publicly for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in negotiating or ending multiple global conflicts. At one point he claimed he had resolved six wars; shortly thereafter, he claimed seven. However, according to analysts, Trump’s claims exaggerate his actual influence. Some of the conflicts he cited were not formal wars, some deals remain incomplete, and some hostilities continue.
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The agreement between Israel and Iran has been described as more akin to a de facto ceasefire than a full war-ending treaty. India denied that Trump played a role in negotiating its ceasefire with Pakistan, saying they handled talks via established diplomatic channels. No formal resolution yet exists for tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile dam, a dispute Trump has referenced.
Machado has long been a thorn in Nicolás Maduro’s rule. Barred from running in the 2024 presidential election, she has continued her opposition work from hiding. Her Nobel award is seen as international validation of Venezuela’s opposition movement and a message of support from democratic institutions worldwide.
Machado might find it difficult to attend the December Nobel ceremony in Oslo due to her position as an opposition.