The Nobel Committee announced it has awarded this year’s Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado, citing her sustained efforts to defend human rights, support democracy, and push for a peaceful transition from authoritarian rule.
Machado — long barred from running for Venezuelan public office — accepted the honor on behalf of what she described as a collective movement, rather than as a single individual.
Following the announcement, she posted on social media that she dedicates the prize to the “suffering people of Venezuela” and also to former U.S. President Donald Trump, praising him for what she called “decisive support” of the cause.
Her selection comes amid public debate. Some had called for Trump himself to receive the prize this year, particularly in light of his role in brokering diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. But the Nobel Committee instead chose Machado, highlighting her activism against the Maduro regime and her advocacy for democratic change in Venezuela.