Nobel Peace Prize 2025: When winner Maria Corina Machado thanked Donald Trump

Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela has won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous work promoting democracy and a peaceful transition from dictatorship in her country. The Norwegian Nobel Committee described her as “a brave and committed champion of peace – a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

When did she thank Trump?

In August, Ms Machado publicly expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his administration’s actions against Venezuela’s regime. On X platform, she wrote:

“We, Venezuelans, thank President Trump @POTUS and his administration for their firm and decisive action to dismantle the criminal and terrorist structure that is illegitimately holding onto power in our country. We call on the world's democratic nations to join the fight that we, the Venezuelan people, are leading. Together, we will achieve freedom for Venezuela and bring our children back home.”

Her full statement, dated August 12, 2025, added:

“On behalf of the Venezuelan people, who have bravely fought for their freedom under the tyrannical regime of Nicolás Maduro, we extend our deepest gratitude to President Donald J. Trump and his administration. …We urge all democratic nations to join in applying the full weight of international law to dismantle the criminal structure… When Venezuela is free, we will become the United States' primary trading and security partner, opening an era of unprecedented economic growth, security, and cooperation. All Venezuelans will enjoy opportunity, prosperity, and dignity, and we will finally bring our children back home.”

The acknowledgement is notable as President Trump himself was also a contender for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Who is Maria Corina Machado?

Machado is the leader of Venezuela’s opposition and a founder of Súmate, an organisation devoted to democratic development. She has been a central figure in Venezuela’s democracy movement for over 20 years, championing free elections, judicial independence, human rights, and popular representation.

“It was a choice of ballots over bullets,” she reflected on her early activism to safeguard Venezuela’s electoral process.

Her struggle for democracy

Ahead of the 2024 elections, Machado was blocked from running as the opposition’s presidential candidate. She then supported Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia of another party. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers across political divides were trained as election observers to ensure transparent polling. Despite risks of harassment, arrest, and torture, citizens monitored vote counts and safeguarded democratic processes.

Although the opposition won by a clear margin, the authoritarian regime refused to accept the result. Yet Machado continued to lead and inspire Venezuelans, even while forced to live in hiding due to threats against her life.

Nobel recognition

The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted that Machado “has shown that the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace. She embodies the hope of a different future, one where the fundamental rights of citizens are protected, and their voices are heard.”

By unifying the opposition, resisting militarisation, and advocating a peaceful democratic transition, she meets all three criteria outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate.