“I Didn’t Say ‘Give It To Me’”: Trump Reacts to Nobel Peace Prize Going to Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado
US President claims the Nobel Peace Prize winner called to honour him for his role in aiding Venezuela’s democratic struggle.
By Orlin Milinov
Washington:
US President Donald Trump responded Friday to not winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, asserting that this year’s laureate, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, personally called him to express gratitude for his support.
“The person who got the Nobel Prize called me today and said, ‘I am accepting this in honour of you because you really deserved it,’” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I didn’t say, ‘Give it to me,’ though. I think she might have… I’ve been helping her along the way. They needed a lot of help in Venezuela during the disaster. I am happy because I saved millions of lives.”
Machado, a key figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering advocacy for democratic freedoms and her efforts to promote a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Trump’s Reaction and Peace Claims
President Trump expressed confidence that his foreign policy initiatives merited recognition by the Nobel Committee, particularly his role in halting global conflicts.
“I said, ‘Well, what about the seven others? I should get a Nobel Prize for each one,’” he joked. “They said, ‘But if you stop Russia and Ukraine, sir, you should be able to get the Nobel.’ I said I stopped seven wars. That’s one war, and that’s a big one.”
He listed countries and regions where he claimed to have prevented or ended conflicts, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Serbia, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Congo.
Trump’s comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly backed his claim, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Give @realDonaldTrump the Nobel Peace Prize — he deserves it!”
Why Maria Corina Machado Won
In its official statement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee described Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who embodies “the hope of a different future, where fundamental rights and democracy prevail.”
“Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace,” the committee said. “Yet we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, and more authoritarian regimes are rising. Machado has spent years fighting for the freedom of the Venezuelan people.”
The Committee added that Machado exemplifies Nobel’s vision that “the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace.” Her recognition, it said, represents a global reminder of the importance of defending civil rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law.
Machado’s award follows years of political persecution under Venezuela’s authoritarian government. Despite bans and threats, she continues to mobilize peaceful resistance and international advocacy for Venezuela’s democratic restoration.
The Broader Context
The Nobel Committee’s remarks highlighted the global decline of democratic norms, noting that while more elections were held in 2024 than ever before, “fewer and fewer are free and fair.”
The award comes amid widespread authoritarian crackdowns, censorship, and human rights abuses worldwide. Machado’s recognition signals renewed attention to democratic resilience as a cornerstone of peace.
