The White House has lashed out at the Nobel Committee after it awarded this year’s Peace Prize to Venezuelan pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado instead of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing the body of “placing politics over peace.”
The Committee announced Friday that Machado was being honored for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.”
The decision drew immediate backlash from Washington, where officials claimed Trump had done more to advance peace globally.
“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“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.”
Trump himself called Machado to congratulate her, telling her she “deserved the award,” according to U.S. media reports.
The president’s disappointment comes just days after brokering a multi-stage ceasefire in Gaza, an achievement the White House has touted as proof of his diplomatic skill. Trump has long made clear his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, frequently citing his efforts to end conflicts and promote stability.
Machado, in her acceptance remarks, thanked Trump for his “decisive support” of Venezuela’s struggle for democracy — a message the president later reshared on Truth Social.
Still, the Nobel Committee’s decision underscores its independence and the difficulty of rewarding peace efforts in a politically charged world.
The Committee’s criteria prioritize contributions to “arms control, democracy, and human rights.” Despite Trump’s foreign policy successes, critics argue his domestic use of military force and hardline immigration stance clash with the spirit of the award.
Four U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, have previously received the Nobel Peace Prize.
