Trump Snubbed for Nobel Prize—but Winner Honors Him for Support

A Missed Prize—And an Unexpected Dedication

President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize he once hoped to claim—but the 2025 recipient, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, dedicated the honor partly to him for supporting her cause. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado for her fight to restore democracy in Venezuela, citing her leadership in defending human rights and advancing democratic reform.

In her acceptance remarks, Machado expressed gratitude to “President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world” for their role in backing Venezuela’s pursuit of freedom. “We are on the threshold of victory,” she wrote, emphasizing the importance of continued U.S. support.

Trump’s Nobel Aspirations

Trump, who brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations, was widely believed to be a contender for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. He was nominated again in 2025 by U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the committee’s January 31 deadline meant that several late nominations from international leaders were not considered.

Despite his diplomatic achievements, the committee ultimately favored Machado’s global impact on democracy.

White House Responds

Following the announcement, the White House criticized the Nobel Committee for “placing politics over peace.” Trump himself remarked earlier in the year, “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.”

While the Nobel recognition remains elusive, Machado’s public acknowledgment of his support offered a rare diplomatic nod to the former president’s influence on international affairs.