Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado wins as Trump’s quest falls short

Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, while US President Donald Trump was passed over despite nominations from Republicans, world leaders, and himself.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Trump’s Nobel hopes fall short

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Trump, who has long expressed his desire for the Nobel, has frequently highlighted his role in ending global conflicts. “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.

Though nominated by Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney for his role in the Abraham Accords, many of Trump’s nominations came after the February 1 deadline for the 2025 prize. His supporters may see the decision as a slight, particularly given his involvement in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Also Read: Israeli PM Netanyahu hails President Trump, says he deserves Nobel Peace Prize

Why Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize?

Maria Corina Machado, has been acknowledged as one of the most courageous civilian leaders in Latin America in recent times. The Nobel Committee's decision to grant her the prestigious honour not only highlights her efforts in bringing together a divided opposition but also her resistance to authoritarianism and her identification with the notion that democracy is the key to peace.

Machado has been more than just a politician--she has been a bridge. In a landscape where Venezuela’s opposition was once fragmented and struggling to find common ground, she helped bring unity around a central demand: free elections and representative governance.

The Nobel Committee observed, “This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree.”

Also Read: Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Trump hopes to win... A quick take on what history tells us

Standing tall against authoritarianism

Venezuela has gone through a great change in the course of two decades, turning from a fairly democratic and affluent country to a state characterised by oppression, crisis, and extreme poverty. The government has a hold on the country through election fraud, arbitrary arrest and trials, and jailing of dissenters. Almost 8 million people have left the country, and the situation of those who stayed is becoming more and more desperate economically.

Machado’s political journey began with the founding of Súmate, an organisation promoting democratic development. From the start, her fight was clear: “It was a choice of ballots over bullets,” she declared more than 20 years ago. Ever since, she has been a steadfast voice for judicial independence, human rights, and the right of Venezuelans to live under a representative government.

Machado’s role during Venezuela's 2024 election

The Committee paid particular attention to Machado’s role during Venezuela’s turbulent 2024 election. Barred from running as the opposition’s presidential candidate, she threw her support behind Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. What followed was one of the most remarkable grassroots efforts in the country’s history.

"Hundreds of thousands of volunteers mobilised across political divides. They were trained as election observers to ensure a transparent and fair election. Despite the risk of harassment, arrest and torture, citizens across the country held watch over the polling stations," the Committee noted.

Although international observers confirmed that the opposition had won, the regime refused to concede and clung to power. The Nobel Committee called these collective efforts “peaceful, innovative, and brave.”

Democracy as a path to peace

For the Committee, Machado’s story is also part of a larger warning: democracy itself is under siege worldwide. Authoritarian regimes increasingly silence the media, abuse the rule of law, imprison critics, and militarise their societies.

Machado, despite threats to her life and years of political persecution, has refused to leave Venezuela. Forced into hiding, she has continued to inspire millions with her resolve.

The Nobel Committee stressed, “Maria Corina Machado meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate. She has brought her country’s opposition together.” The Committee’s final words captured why Machado’s recognition carries weight beyond Venezuela’s borders: “Maria Corina Machado has shown that the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace.”