María Corina Machado Honored with 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Oslo/New York: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, dedicating the honor to the people of Venezuela and US President Donald Trump. Machado praised Trump for his “decisive support” of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement.

Machado’s Message on Social Media
“I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause,” Machado wrote on X. 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 democratic nations worldwide as our main allies to achieve freedom and democracy.”

This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.

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…

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025

Background – Venezuela’s 2024 Disputed Election

At 58, Machado has spent much of the past year in hiding following Venezuela’s controversial 2024 election, widely criticized for alleged manipulation by President Nicolás Maduro. Barred from running herself, she campaigned for her ally Edmundo González Urrutia, recognized by many in the international community as the rightful winner.

Nobel Committee Citation
The Nobel Committee praised Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Machado Supports Trump’s Hard-Line Stance

Machado has backed Trump’s firm measures against the Maduro regime, including a recent U.S. naval deployment near Venezuelan waters, which she called “a necessary measure” to accelerate Venezuela’s democratic transition.

Global Reactions to Machado’s Nobel Award

U.S. Response
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted Machado’s dedication, calling it “a recognition of true leadership.”

Venezuelan Opposition Reacts
Venezuelan opposition leaders congratulated Machado. Two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles wrote on X: “May this recognition be another boost to achieve PEACE and for our Venezuela to leave behind suffering and reclaim the freedom and democracy it has fought for so long.”