Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado personally called him to say she accepted the award in his honour, hours after the White House criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee for “placing politics over peace.”

White House calls Nobel decision ‘politics over peace’

Earlier on Friday, the White House had expressed disappointment after the Nobel Committee chose to honour Machado instead of Trump, who had lobbied heavily for the Peace Prize, highlighting his role in negotiating international ceasefires and hostage deals.

“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,” White House spokesman Steven Cheung said in a post on X.

Cheung added that the Committee’s decision proved it had “placed politics over peace.”

The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Machado for her “courageous defence of freedom” and her resistance against authoritarian regimes, according to the Nobel Committee’s official citation. Machado, a long-time critic of Venezuela’s ruling government, has been internationally recognised for her role in advocating democracy and human rights.

Trump claims Machado dedicated prize to him

Responding to the Nobel announcement, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Machado had reached out to him personally after the announcement.

“The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honour of you, because you really deserved it,’” Trump said.

“It’s a very nice thing to do. I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she might have. She was very nice,” he added, smiling.

While Trump refrained from directly criticising the Nobel Committee, he reiterated his view that his administration had achieved “historic peace deals” that merited recognition.

Nobel Committee defends its choice

The Nobel Committee, in its announcement earlier in Oslo, stated that Machado was selected for her “unyielding courage and leadership in the face of repression,” describing her as “a defender of freedom who rises and resists.”

In a public statement after receiving the award, Machado expressed gratitude, saying, “We count on President Trump and all those who believe in liberty to continue supporting Venezuela’s fight for democracy.”

Her remarks drew global attention, especially after Trump confirmed their private exchange.

Trump’s history with the Nobel Peace Prize

This is not the first time Trump has been vocal about the Nobel Peace Prize. During his first presidency, he frequently compared his achievements to those of former President Barack Obama, who won the Peace Prize in 2009.

“Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing,” Trump reportedly told senior military leaders last month.

The former president has often cited his role in mediating ceasefires in the Middle East, negotiating prisoner exchanges, and de-escalating conflicts as reasons he deserved the accolade.

Trump also remarked that the Nobel Committee’s decision effectively rewarded actions taken in 2024, a year in which he was campaigning for re-election. “I was running for office in ’24. But there are those that say we did so much that they should have done it,” he said.

Conclusion

The exchange between Trump and Machado has added an unexpected twist to this year’s Nobel Peace Prize announcement. While Machado’s recognition marks a milestone for Venezuela’s democratic movement, Trump’s continued assertion of his role in promoting global peace ensures that the debate around political bias in the Nobel selection process remains alive.

As both leaders navigate their respective political landscapes, their brief alignment over the Peace Prize underlines how international recognition often intersects with global power politics.