The White House has sharply criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee for what it described as “placing politics over peace,” following the announcement that Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, María Corina Machado, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
In a statement issued on Thursday, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the Committee of using the prestigious prize to advance political agendas rather than honoring genuine efforts to foster global peace.
“The Nobel Committee has once again proved they prioritize politics over peace,” Cheung said. “President Trump has worked tirelessly to end wars, broker peace agreements, and save lives around the world. Yet, the Committee has chosen to reward political activism over real peacemaking.”
The reaction followed hours after the Nobel Committee in Oslo announced Machado as the 2025 laureate “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.”
Machado, 57, is one of Venezuela’s most outspoken opposition figures and a long-time critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s socialist regime. She has faced bans from public office, harassment, and threats, yet continues to mobilize the Venezuelan opposition movement, calling for “a peaceful restoration of democracy through civic resistance and unity.”
In her acceptance remarks delivered via a video message, Machado said the award was not for her alone but for “the millions of Venezuelans who have refused to give up on freedom.”
“This Nobel Peace Prize belongs to every Venezuelan who has resisted tyranny, who has fought peacefully for democracy, and who dreams of a free nation,” she said.
Her selection, however, sparked strong political reactions—especially in Washington, where Trump’s allies had widely expected him to receive the award following his involvement in recent diplomatic negotiations, including the Israel–Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that ended months of bloodshed.
President Donald Trump, who has been nominated several times in previous years, had publicly expressed confidence that his efforts in mediating peace deals and “stopping endless wars” would finally earn him the honor. His aides reportedly viewed the prize as recognition of his “global statesmanship” and commitment to restoring peace through diplomacy.
Analysts believe that Trump’s open lobbying for the Nobel Prize and the administration’s public campaign to secure it may have backfired. The Nobel Committee, which insists on its political neutrality, typically discourages any form of campaigning, emphasizing that nominations must be based solely on contributions to peace and humanitarian progress.
A senior European diplomat told Reuters that “overt political lobbying or self-promotion” often undermines a candidate’s credibility before the Committee. “The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for sustained impact, not short-term political achievements or self-advocacy,” the diplomat said.
Meanwhile, international observers have praised the Committee’s decision to honor Machado, describing it as a bold move that brings renewed attention to the Venezuelan people’s struggle for democracy. Human rights organizations across Latin America hailed the award as a “powerful message to authoritarian regimes that peaceful resistance still matters.”
Still, within the U.S., the decision has been viewed through a partisan lens. Supporters of the former president argue that Trump’s record of diplomatic breakthroughs—from the Abraham Accords in the Middle East to his efforts in the Korean Peninsula—makes him one of the most deserving figures in modern history.
“Trump has achieved more for world peace than many past recipients,” said conservative commentator Laura Ingraham. “It’s unfortunate that the Nobel Committee continues to politicize an award that was meant to honor peacemakers, not politicians.”
Norway’s Nobel Committee, however, defended its choice, reaffirming that the award process is “independent, impartial, and based solely on merit.”
“María Corina Machado represents courage and the non-violent pursuit of freedom,” the Committee’s chair, Berit Reiss-Andersen, said. “Her work embodies the spirit of Alfred Nobel’s vision—a struggle for peace built on human rights, democracy, and justice.”
As the debate continues, experts say the White House’s sharp response reflects deeper frustrations over the administration’s strained relationship with international institutions.
Political analyst Thomas Grant told The Washington Post that “Trump views recognition from bodies like the Nobel Committee as validation of his global leadership, so being passed over again is a personal and political setback.”
For Machado, however, the award represents renewed hope for Venezuela’s democratic movement.
“This prize will not silence the truth—it will amplify it,” she said. “Venezuela will rise again, and we will do so peacefully.”
While the controversy over Trump’s omission continues to dominate global headlines, the Nobel Committee’s decision has undeniably placed Venezuela’s democratic struggle back in the international spotlight—reminding the world that, even amid political power plays, the fight for freedom and peace still commands attention.