Venezuelan democracy activist and opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, surpassing U.S. President Donald Trump, who had openly lobbied for the honour. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, praising 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 described Machado as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.” Her leadership has been instrumental in uniting Venezuela’s deeply divided opposition and inspiring millions to continue pushing for democratic change despite state repression.
Machado, who has been living in hiding since the disputed 2024 presidential elections, was the opposition’s main candidate before being barred from running by Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Following her disqualification, she endorsed Edmundo González, whose win was widely believed to have been overturned through electoral fraud. In her first reaction to the award, Machado expressed disbelief, saying she was “in shock” but grateful for “the immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans.”
Trump, who had also been considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, had long positioned himself as a global peace broker, citing his mediation efforts in the Middle East and South Asia. However, his confrontational foreign policy, including air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and renewed tensions with China, weakened his case for the prestigious award.
The White House reacted sharply to the outcome, accusing the Nobel Committee of “putting politics over peace.” In a statement, Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump’s diplomatic achievements had been overlooked, especially his claimed efforts to bring stability to Gaza and broker truces between India and Pakistan.
The Nobel Committee, however, stood by its decision, emphasizing that its choices are based solely on the principles laid out by Alfred Nobel. “In the long history of the prize, we have seen campaigns and pressure, but our decisions are grounded only in merit,” said committee chair Jørgen Frydnes.
Machado’s win is seen as a major boost to Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement and a symbolic victory against authoritarianism in Latin America. It also draws renewed international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has forced millions of Venezuelans to flee their country.
As questions remain about whether Machado will be able to attend the Nobel ceremony in Oslo later this year, her recognition stands as a powerful statement from the global community, one that celebrates courage, resistance, and the enduring fight for democracy.
