WASHINGTON: The White House on Friday sharply criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee after it awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, instead of U.S. President Donald Trump, who had publicly positioned himself as a top contender.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said the decision reflected “politics over peace,” arguing that President Trump’s diplomatic achievements warranted global recognition.
“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,” Cheung wrote on social media platform X.
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.
The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace. https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 10, 2025
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”
Machado Honoured for Defending Democracy
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday announced Machado as the 2025 Peace Prize laureate, describing her as one of the “courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist” authoritarian rule.
Machado, a longtime critic of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has faced years of political persecution, disqualification from elections, and threats over her calls for democracy and human rights. Her win was hailed internationally as a victory for democratic activism in Latin America.
In her statement following the announcement, Machado dedicated the prize to “all Venezuelans who continue to fight for freedom under the harshest oppression,” according to HUM News reporting.
Trump Campaigned for Recognition
President Trump, who has been nominated for the peace prize multiple times since his first term, had openly campaigned for it in recent months. Earlier this week, he announced a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza — a move his campaign touted as a landmark diplomatic breakthrough.
Although Trump has not yet directly commented on the Nobel Committee’s decision, he posted several videos on his Truth Social platform showing supporters celebrating what they described as his “historic Gaza peace deal.”
The committee did not mention Trump in its announcement, focusing instead on Machado’s efforts to promote non-violent resistance in Venezuela.
A Controversial Reaction
Analysts say the White House’s reaction reflects Trump’s continued effort to frame himself as a global peacemaker amid a heated U.S. election campaign. Critics, however, have accused the administration of politicising the Nobel selection process, which remains independent and traditionally refrains from commenting on nominees.
The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious honours, has often sparked controversy when awarded to political figures. Past winners include former U.S. President Barack Obama (2009) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (2019).