The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, marking a notable rebuff of the widely speculated possibility that US President Donald Trump might receive the honor. Trump and his supporters had mounted a vocal campaign in the run-up, citing his mediation in international conflicts and ceasefire deals, but ultimately fell short in the Nobel Committee’s decision.
Earlier in the week, several high-profile figures had formally nominated Trump for the prize. Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg announced that he had submitted Trump’s name, citing his role in brokering an Armenia and Azerbaijan peace agreement and his involvement in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also publicly urged that Trump deserve the Nobel, praising his diplomatic efforts including a ceasefire deal with Hamas. In the US, some members of Congress supported or pledged resolutions to honor Trump with the prize.
Despite these endorsements and public pressure, the Nobel Committee opted in its announcement to emphasize Machado’s decades-long resistance to Venezuela’s authoritarian regime and her dedication to democratic rights. Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes noted that while campaigns and media attention are common, the committee’s mandate is to judge on long-term work aligned with Alfred Nobel’s stipulations—not symbolic or last-minute bursts of diplomacy.
White House officials expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision. Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the Nobel Committee of prioritizing “politics over peace,” arguing that Trump’s recent ceasefire efforts and mediation should have merited more serious consideration. The White House reaction was fierce, signaling disappointment and casting the outcome as a snub.