Defying expectations and dashing US President Donald Trump’s hopes, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Venezuela’s prominent opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado. The 58-year-old, often hailed as Venezuela’s Iron Lady for her unwavering fight for democracy, is currently in hiding after last year’s disputed elections.
Machado, who was recently featured in Timemagazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2025, has been a leading voice against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime. The elections in 2024, widely condemned as rigged, barred her from contesting and led to a severe crackdown on the opposition. Despite persecution, arrests, and travel bans, she has continued her struggle from within Venezuela, becoming a symbol of courage and resistance.
Nobel Committee’s Citation
Announcing the award on Friday, the Nobel Committee praised Machado for her “tireless efforts to uphold democratic values and her relentless pursuit of a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” The committee described her as “a brave and committed champion of peace who has kept the flame of democracy alive in dark times.”
Machado, an industrial engineer by training, co-founded Vente Venezuela in 2013, a liberal political movement that has become central to the country’s pro-democracy campaign. She earlier served in the National Assembly between 2010 and 2015.
Trump’s Unfulfilled Aspiration
The decision has reportedly dealt a blow to Donald Trump, who had been publicly campaigning for the Peace Prize, asserting that he had “ended eight wars” during his tenure. While Trump has not yet reacted to the announcement, the choice of Machado is unlikely to completely displease him — the former US president has often taken a tough stance against the Maduro government, halting diplomatic engagement and accusing it of drug trafficking.
In fact, Machado had expressed gratitude to Trump last August when Washington doubled the bounty on Maduro’s capture to USD 50 million. “We, Venezuelans, thank President Trump and his administration for their firm and decisive action to dismantle the criminal and terrorist structure that holds power illegitimately in our country,” she had written on X (formerly Twitter).
A Historic Moment
By choosing Machado, the Nobel Committee has sent a strong signal in support of democratic movements and political dissenters operating under oppressive regimes. Her win not only honours her personal courage but also underscores global attention on Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for freedom and fair governance.
Trump, meanwhile, will have to wait to join the ranks of past US presidents who have won the prestigious award — Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
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