Venezuela’s Machado Dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, Calls Him Ally in Democracy Fight
"I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!" she wrote on X.
By Orlin Milinov
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, newly awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, has dedicated her historic win to both the people of Venezuela and U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his “decisive support” for her country’s pro-democracy struggle.
“I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!” Machado declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
She added, “We are on the threshold of victory, and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve freedom and democracy.”
Machado, 58, has been living in hiding for the past year following Venezuela’s disputed elections, which international observers say were manipulated by President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Barred from running herself, Machado campaigned for her proxy candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, whom much of the global community recognizes as the legitimate winner of the 2024 election.
Nobel Committee Honors “Tireless Struggle for Democracy”
In its official statement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee commended Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her courageous struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
The Committee’s decision highlights Machado’s long-standing leadership in Venezuela’s opposition movement and her vocal stance against Maduro’s authoritarian rule.
Machado has consistently supported the Trump administration’s hardline policy toward Caracas, including sanctions and military posturing. She described the U.S. naval deployment near Venezuela as “a necessary measure” to pressure Maduro into democratic reform.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared Machado’s message dedicating the award to Trump, amplifying it to millions of followers on social media.
Several Venezuelan opposition figures also praised Machado’s win. Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate, congratulated her on X, writing: “May this recognition be another boost to achieve PEACE and for Venezuela to leave behind suffering and recover the freedom and democracy for which it has fought for so many years.”
A Symbol of Hope Amid Venezuela’s Political Turmoil
Machado’s Nobel win has reignited global attention on Venezuela’s deep political and humanitarian crisis. Over the past decade, millions have fled the country amid hyperinflation, shortages, and government repression.
Her dedication of the award to Trump underscores a rare alliance between a Latin American opposition leader and a U.S. president, marking a moment of renewed international focus on the struggle for democratic governance in the region.
