Venezuelan Oppn leader Maria Corina Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize as Trump snubbed

White House calls it ‘politics over peace’; Putin praises Trump’s peace efforts

- MPOST BUREAU

Venezuelan Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her efforts to promote democracy and lead a peaceful transition from authoritarian rule in Venezuela, while US President Donald Trump, who had been widely speculated to be a contender, was passed over.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited 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 White House reacted with disappointment, with communications director Steven Cheung saying the committee “proved they place politics over peace” by not recognising Trump, particularly following his administration's role in facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza this week. Machado, in turn, dedicated her award to the Venezuelan people and praised Trump for his support of her cause, highlighting the alignment of her struggle with US efforts to back democratic movements in the region.

Machado, 58, had been poised to run against President Nicolas Maduro in last year's presidential election but was disqualified by the government. Edmundo Gonzalez, a newcomer to politics, replaced her on the ballot. The election, widely criticised for irregularities, included arrests, disqualifications, and other human rights violations. Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council, widely regarded as loyal to him, triggering nationwide protests that were met with a forceful government response, leaving over 20 people dead.