U.S. President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday despite months of lobbying from his supporters, world leaders, and, mainly, himself.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to Venezuelan opposition activist María Corina Machado for her work promoting democracy and a peaceful transition from dictatorship in her country.
Highlights
- Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize despite months of lobbying by himself and world leaders.
- The prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition activist María Corina Machado for promoting democracy.
- Trump criticized Obama’s 2009 Nobel win and claimed he saved lives by ending global conflicts.
Machado, who has lived in hiding for the past year, was described as “a key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided,” by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo.
María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize instead of Donald Trump
Image credits: Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
Trump has repeatedly touted himself as the deserving winner for helping end conflicts around the world. He also said he doubted the Nobel Committee would ever give him the prize.
“They’ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I saved a lot of lives,” Trump said Thursday.
Many of Trump’s nominations came after the February 1 deadline for this year’s prize.
Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney nominated him in December, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Pakistan’s government followed later.
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
The White House called the committee’s decision political. Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on X that the committee “proved they place politics over peace” and insisted Trump would continue “making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.”
Meanwhile, Machado expressed shock and gratitude upon learning she won the prize.
Speaking from hiding, she said, “I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this,” and thanked the committee for the “honor.”
Edmundo González, who replaced Machado in running for leadership of Venezuela and is also in exile, congratulated Machado.
In an X post, González wrote, “Well-deserved recognition for the long struggle of a woman and of an entire people for our freedom and democracy.”
“Venezuela's first Nobel! Venezuela will be free!”
Frydnes defended the committee’s decision when asked whether pressure from Trump and the international community to award the prize to Trump impacted their work.
The White House called the committee's decision "politics over peace"
Image credits: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/Getty Images
Frydnes assured people that the committee has seen “media tension” and regularly receives thousands of letters each year from people who say “what for them leads to peace.”
“We base our decision only on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel,” Frydnes said.
The committee’s decision comes after Trump intensified his push for recognition.
He criticized former U.S. President Barack Obama, who won the prize in 2009.
“They gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country,” Trump said.
In August, Trump had even asked Norway’s Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to campaign on his behalf, Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv reported.
Three sitting U.S. presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Barack Obama.
Since his second term, Trump has cited ending seven wars as a reason he deserves the award. He has often cited his role in brokering ceasefires in Gaza.
As of Friday, Israel and Hamas entered into a ceasefire agreement and agreed to the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan to exchange hostages.
Yet, aspects such as disarmament and who will govern Gaza still remain uncertain.
Trump lost the prize despite months of lobbying from world leaders and himself
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
Trump also promised during his presidential campaign in 2024 that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine, but little progress has been made on that front.
Internationally, he made moves such as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, affecting global efforts to combat climate change.
He has also repeatedly imposed and lifted trade tariffs to pressure foreign governments, which has led to financial uncertainty globally.
Domestically, Trump has pursued highly controversial policies in the name of law and order.
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
He has implemented a wide-ranging deportation initiative aimed at undocumented immigrants, used the Department of Justice to target political opponents, and introduced healthcare policies negatively affecting women and underprivileged people.
He has also deployed the military to U.S. cities despite court orders not to do so.
The Nobel Peace Prize was first awarded in 1901. Alfred Nobel said in his will that he wished for the prize to be awarded to those “who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
This is a breaking story. Updates to follow.