Maria Corina Machado dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelans, says ‘We count on President Trump more than ever’

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to the “struggle of all Venezuelans for freedom,” expressing gratitude to allies across the world and singling out U.S. President Donald Trump as a crucial partner in Venezuela’s democratic movement.

On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Machado as the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless work toward achieving a just and peaceful transition of power” in Venezuela. The award recognizes her long-standing fight against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime, which has faced widespread accusations of electoral fraud and human rights abuses.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Machado wrote, “This immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to complete our task: to achieve freedom.” 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 main allies in achieving freedom and democracy.”

Machado, who was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, has remained one of the most prominent figures in the country’s opposition movement. Despite government threats, harassment, and brief detention during anti-Maduro protests, she continues to call for international solidarity to restore democracy in the South American nation.

The Nobel Committee’s decision sparked a strong response from around the world. The White House criticized the move, noting that President Trump—who had been lobbying for the Peace Prize—was overlooked despite his mediation efforts in international conflicts, including the Gaza peace process. “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian,” the White House Director of Communications posted on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced support for Trump, writing, “The Nobel Committee talks about peace. President @realDonaldTrump makes it happen. The facts speak for themselves. President #Trump deserves it.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, reacted by questioning the credibility of the Nobel Committee, suggesting that its decisions have become “politically motivated.”

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Machado’s win comes amid a turbulent period in Venezuela. Following Maduro’s controversial third-term election victory, widespread protests erupted across the country, met with harsh crackdowns. Many Venezuelans view Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize as both a symbol of hope and an acknowledgment of their decade-long fight for freedom.

Concluding her message, Machado wrote, “Venezuela will be free!”—a rallying cry that has resonated across her nation and among millions of Venezuelans in exile.