María Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Dedicates It to Trump and Venezuelan People
OSLO, October 10, 2025 — Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless campaign to restore democracy in Venezuela and challenge the long-standing rule of President Nicolás Maduro. The Nobel Committee honored her for “her unwavering courage in promoting democratic values and leading a peaceful resistance against dictatorship.”
Machado, 58, currently living in hiding, was blocked from running in the 2024 presidential election despite winning the opposition primaries. During an emotional phone call shared by the Nobel Committee, she reacted by saying:
“Oh my God… I have no words. I thank you so much, but I hope you understand this is a movement, an achievement of a whole society. I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve it.”
Dedication to Trump and the Venezuelan People
Shortly after the announcement, Machado took to X (formerly Twitter) to dedicate her award “to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause.” The message immediately went viral and sparked a wave of political reactions around the world.
The White House was quick to criticize the decision. “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” said spokesperson Steven Cheung, emphasizing that President Trump “will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.”
Background: Defying the Maduro Regime
Machado has long been one of Maduro’s fiercest critics. As an industrial engineer and political activist, she has spent more than two decades fighting for democratic reforms and transparency in Venezuela. Her political work has often come at a heavy price—threats, harassment, and a travel ban preventing her from leaving the country for over a decade.
The Nobel Committee’s citation described her as a “symbol of civic courage in a nation where freedom of expression and fair elections remain under siege.”
Will She Attend the Oslo Ceremony?
The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is scheduled for December 10, 2025, but it remains unclear whether Machado will be able to attend. She faces constant surveillance and risks arrest if she leaves her hiding place. If she cannot travel, she may ask one of her children—who live abroad—to accept the award on her behalf, as they have done with previous honors she received in recent years.
Members of her team, some of whom sought refuge in an embassy in Caracas for over a year, might also represent her in Oslo should her security situation prevent her from attending.
A Strategic and Symbolic Choice
By honoring Machado, the Nobel Committee sent a clear signal of support to democratic movements and political prisoners worldwide. Analysts say the decision was both symbolically powerful and strategically smart: it recognized a figure of moral integrity while avoiding direct controversy over Trump’s repeated public campaign for the prize.
Marco Rubio, now serving as Trump’s Secretary of State, was among those who nominated Machado for the prize in 2024, adding another layer of political complexity to the story.
Global Reactions
The announcement triggered mixed reactions across the globe. International human rights organizations welcomed the decision, with the United Nations Human Rights Office describing it as “a recognition of the Venezuelan people’s clear aspirations for free and fair elections.”
Inside Venezuela, government-controlled media outlets downplayed the news, portraying it as “a political stunt orchestrated by Washington.” Yet, among ordinary Venezuelans, the moment was celebrated with cautious optimism, many viewing it as a rare moral victory after years of economic and social collapse.
Why This Nobel Matters
Beyond political symbolism, Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize represents a historic milestone: she is the first Venezuelan and the sixth Latin American to win this honor. For millions enduring hardship under Maduro’s regime, her recognition is a glimmer of hope and a validation of their ongoing struggle for freedom.
Her courage—coupled with her dedication to nonviolent change—positions her as a powerful emblem of what the Nobel Peace Prize stands for: the belief that even in the darkest times, one person’s voice can ignite a nation’s desire for democracy.