The White House sharply criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday after it awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, instead of U.S. President Donald Trump, who had been widely speculated as a contender.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), White House spokesperson Steven Cheung condemned the decision, accusing the Nobel Committee of prioritising “politics over peace.” He said President Trump “will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” adding that “he has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”
The remarks came shortly after the Nobel Committee announced that Machado had been selected for the Peace Prize “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.”
Maria Corina Machado, a long-time advocate for democracy and one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition figures, has spent decades challenging the rule of President Nicolás Maduro and campaigning for free elections and human rights. Her activism has led to repeated arrests, threats, and disqualification from holding public office. Despite government restrictions, Machado remains a key symbol of resistance in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement.
The Nobel Committee praised her “unwavering courage and moral clarity” in confronting political oppression, noting that her efforts have inspired millions of Venezuelans to continue pressing for change through peaceful means.
Trump’s supporters had earlier suggested that the former president was a strong candidate for the Peace Prize, citing his diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East, including the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states during his first term. He was also nominated by several European parliamentarians for his efforts to reduce U.S. military involvement overseas.
However, this year’s award marks another missed opportunity for Trump, who has repeatedly expressed frustration with the Nobel Committee in the past. In 2020, he publicly questioned why he had not been recognised for his “historic peace agreements,” suggesting the Nobel establishment was biased against him.
Friday’s announcement has reignited political debate in Washington, with some of Trump’s allies claiming the decision reflects an “anti-Trump agenda” among global institutions.
The Nobel Peace Prize remains one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions, awarded annually in Oslo to individuals or groups that have made exceptional contributions to peace and humanitarian causes.
While the White House’s response underscored disappointment, the Nobel Committee stood by its choice, saying Machado’s courage “embodies the very spirit of the Peace Prize.”
