Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her work promoting democracy in Venezuela. Machado, who currently lives in hiding due to threats from the Maduro regime, dedicated the prize to the Venezuelan people and President Donald Trump.
“I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause,” Machado posted on X. She said that the recognition “is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” highlighting the importance of international allies in advancing democracy.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Machado for her leadership in uniting opposition forces and resisting the militarization of Venezuelan society. Jørgen Watne Frydens, chair of the committee, said she “meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate,” emphasizing her commitment to peaceful democratic transition. The committee also framed the award in the context of global democratic decline, noting the rise of authoritarianism, repression, and attacks on free media worldwide.
Machado, 58, founded the Atenea Foundation to support street children in Caracas and co-founded Súmate, an electoral-monitoring group. She was elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2010 but was expelled in 2014. Later, she helped establish the Soy Venezuela alliance to unite pro-democracy forces. The Nobel Committee described her as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who has continued her activism despite personal risk.
The announcement prompted reactions in the United States, where White House Communications Director Steven Cheung criticized the committee, claiming it “placed politics over peace” while acknowledging Trump’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts. Machado’s dedication of the prize to Trump drew attention, highlighting the international dimension of the Venezuelan struggle for democracy.
The Nobel Prize ceremony is scheduled for December 10 in Oslo, Norway. Machado expressed humility upon learning of the honor, describing it as “the achievement of a whole society” and emphasizing that her work represents the collective efforts of the Venezuelan people striving for democratic freedoms.
