White House Accuses Nobel Committee Of ‘Politics Over Peace’ After Awarding Prize To Venezuelan Activist

Administration Contends President Trump Deserved Honor for Recent Gaza Ceasefire and Global Diplomatic Efforts

The White House on Friday issued a sharp rebuke to the Norwegian Nobel Committee following its decision to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado. The administration contended that the Committee prioritized political considerations over tangible peace achievements, specifically those secured by U.S. President Donald Trump.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly criticized the decision, stating that the Committee “proved they place politics over peace.”

“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” Cheung wrote. “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 Peace President’s Portfolio

The White House’s reaction is set against the backdrop of President Trump’s recent diplomatic engagement, notably the successful brokering of a multi-stage ceasefire deal in Gaza just two days prior to the Nobel announcement. Administration officials had recently celebrated the accomplishment by referring to him as “the peace president.”

President Trump’s well-known ambition for the prestigious award has been supported by various global figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who acknowledged Trump’s extensive work in resolving complex international crises.

Despite the controversy, the President did contact the recipient, María Corina Machado, to congratulate her, telling her she deserved the award, according to a senior White House official.

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Machado Acknowledges Trump’s Support

Following her win for “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela,” Ms. Machado quickly acknowledged the President, writing on social media, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!” The President subsequently re-shared her message on his Truth Social platform.

However, the nomination process itself presented a technical hurdle for the President’s perceived candidacy this year, as nominations closed on January 31st. Machado, on the other hand, had been formally nominated by a bipartisan group of U.S. Congress members, including current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in August 2024.

Focus on Nobel Criteria

The Nobel Committee traditionally awards the Peace Prize to leaders championing “democracy and human rights”, the core of Ms. Machado’s activism, or those promoting “arms control and disarmament, peace negotiation, and work aimed at creating a better organized and more peaceful world.”

The Committee’s choice highlights the philosophical tension between rewarding direct diplomatic conflict resolution, as championed by President Trump, and recognizing fundamental civic resistance to authoritarianism, which Ms. Machado represents.

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