The White House responded with strong criticism after María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan pro-democracy leader, was named the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, rather than former President Donald Trump. A spokesperson decried the decision as an instance of the Nobel Committee placing “politics over peace.” The administration affirmed that the President’s focus remains on “making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” emphasizing his humanitarian spirit. Machado’s prize acknowledges 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 Norwegian Nobel Committee commended her as a “brave and committed champion of peace.” The Committee’s announcement also broadly commented on the global decline of democracy, citing issues like the suppression of free press and political opposition, and the rise of authoritarianism in various countries, pointing out that many recent elections lack fairness.
