Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, has dedicated the award to the man who many in the United States and around the world have said truly deserved it: U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Nobel Committee announced Friday, “This year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado has led the struggle for democracy in the face of ever-expanding authoritarianism in Venezuela.”
In a statement posted on X, Machado acknowledged the award, but then graciously dedicated it to President Trump. She wrote:
This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.
We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy.
I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!
This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.
We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic…
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025
More from the Daily Mail: Machado has been in hiding in Venezuela for the past year since elections that authoritarian leftist President Nicolas Maduro is accused of stealing.
The politician, who was barred from contesting the election, campaigned instead for her stand-in, ex-diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, seen by much of the international community as the rightful winner.
The Nobel Committee cited 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.’
Machado, 58, has backed Trump’s ongoing campaign of military pressure on Maduro, including a major US naval deployment near Venezuela, as a ‘necessary measure’ towards a democratic transition in Venezuela.
President Trump reportedly called Machado and congratulated her for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Donald Trump called Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to congratulate her for her Nobel Peace Prize https://t.co/ajXjnwD4r8
— Bloomberg (@business) October 10, 2025
In August, Machado wrote in a statement, “We, Venezuelans, thank President Trump @POTUS and his administration for their firm and decisive action to dismantle the criminal and terrorist structure that is illegitimately holding onto power in our country.
“We call on the world’s democratic nations to join the fight that we, the Venezuelan people, are leading. Together, we will achieve freedom for Venezuela and bring our children back home.”
We, Venezuelans, thank President Trump @POTUS and his administration for their firm and decisive action to dismantle the criminal and terrorist structure that is illegitimately holding onto power in our country.
We call on the world’s democratic nations to join the fight that… pic.twitter.com/JoRPvz1CMC
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) August 12, 2025
Trump has praised Machado as well. In January, he wrote:
Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!
Machado released the following statement accepting the Nobel Peace Prize:
On behalf of the people of Venezuela, THANK YOU. pic.twitter.com/JfZZO44t5v
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025
Guys. Chill out.
Yes. Trump should have won the Peace Prize. But we knew they were never going to let that happen.
And Maria Corina Machado is a great choice. The left is already calling her literally Hitler, which tells you what you need to know. pic.twitter.com/95byFOWIzN
— John Carney (@carney) October 10, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin also reacted to the news that President Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize.
“This award lost credibility. The committee discussed the prize for people who have done nothing for the world. He solves complex problems, crises that last for decades,” Putin said.
President Putin responds to President Trump not winning the Nobel Peace Prize:
“This award lost credibility. The committee discussed the prize for people who have done nothing for the world.”
“He solves complex problems, crises that last for decades.”
pic.twitter.com/fQjiKYuiMM— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 10, 2025
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado has led the struggle for democracy in the face of ever-expanding authoritarianism in Venezuela. Ms Machado studied engineering and finance, and had a short career in business. In 1992 she established the Atenea… pic.twitter.com/OtFF6NPuGl
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2025
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