Oslo [Norway]: The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado, a decision that has drawn global attention and left US President Donald Trump, who had long sought the accolade, without the award.

Machado, a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, has been recognised for her relentless efforts to uphold democratic values and challenge authoritarian rule in the country. Her recognition comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Venezuela, with international leaders and rights organisations praising her courage and integrity.

Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize ambitions

US President Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed that he played a key role in ending multiple international conflicts. Over the past year, he had asserted that he successfully mediated seven international disputes, including conflicts involving Israel, Iran, India and Pakistan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo. With the recent Gaza ceasefire, Trump cited his efforts as the eighth conflict he helped resolve.

Despite receiving nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize from various countries, including Russia, Rwanda, Gabon, Azerbaijan, and Cambodia, Trump did not make it to the final award. The nominations also included endorsements from prominent international leaders, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Nobel Committee explains decision

Speaking at a press briefing, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee, clarified that the prize is awarded solely based on the principles outlined in the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, who established the Nobel Peace Prize.

“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So, we base only our decision on the work and will of Alfred Nobel,” Frydnes said. He added that while thousands of letters and recommendations pour in every year, the committee evaluates the nominees’ actual contributions to peace, rather than media attention or campaigns surrounding them.

Frydnes also addressed Trump’s claims, emphasising that the committee values courage and integrity above self-promotion or high-profile media coverage. “We receive thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace. But the awarding is done only based on genuine contributions that meet Nobel’s vision,” he said.

Trump reacts to the decision

Trump responded to the announcement by downplaying the outcome, stating that he had not pursued the prize for recognition. “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,” he said on Thursday.

The decision underscores the committee’s longstanding practice of prioritising consistent, demonstrable contributions to peace over claims of success or temporary conflict resolutions. While Trump has sought the honour in multiple public forums, including the UN General Assembly, the award went to Machado, whose advocacy for democracy in Venezuela aligns closely with the committee’s focus on long-term efforts to promote human rights and peace.

Conclusion

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize highlights the committee’s commitment to recognising individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage and integrity in the pursuit of peace, rather than those with high-profile media visibility or self-proclaimed achievements. Maria Corina Machado’s award marks a significant moment for democracy activism in Latin America, while Trump’s long-standing ambitions for the prize remain unfulfilled.