The White House sharply criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday after it awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, bypassing US. President Donald Trump, who had openly expressed his desire for the honor.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said: “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace. President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. 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.”
Since returning to office in January, Trump has repeatedly claimed he deserves the Peace Prize, citing his role in brokering multiple international agreements. Most recently, he claimed credit for helping mediate the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, which he described as the “eighth war” he has ended.
On the eve of the prize announcement, Trump reiterated his position but added: “Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that, I did it because I’ve saved a lot of lives.”
However, Nobel watchers in Oslo had long dismissed Trump’s chances, arguing that his “America First” policies and combative international posture run counter to the spirit of the Peace Prize, as envisioned by Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will.
Despite this, the omission sparked backlash from Trump allies, who argue his diplomatic efforts have been overlooked due to political bias.
Maria Corina Machado, a longtime democracy activist and key opposition figure in Venezuela, received the Peace Prize for what the Nobel Committee called her “tireless work promoting democratic rights and a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Machado has been living in hiding and was previously barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential elections. Her recognition was hailed by human rights advocates and opposition figures across Latin America.
AFP
