President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The award went to Venezuelan opposition leader MarÃa Corina Machado instead. Trump had been pushing hard for the prize this year, saying he had solved seven to eight wars during his term. Seven world leaders backed him for the prize, according to the White House.
According to Politico, the Nobel Committee said Machado won for her work in defending democracy in Venezuela. Nobel Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said Machado “has spoken out for judicial independence, human rights, and popular representation” during a time when democracy is getting weaker. Machado strongly criticizes Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s government and has been hiding in Venezuela for the last year.
The announcement brought relief and celebration from crowds watching the live broadcast outside Oslo’s Nobel Peace Center. “I’m so glad the orange guy didn’t win,” said Ulf Smilowsky, a German tourist who watched the announcement. Elliot Roberts, an exchange student from Montana, agreed and said the decision sent a strong message “back home” when democracy is under attack around the world.
Trump’s Reaction To Missing Out On The Prize
Trump has talked about the Nobel Peace Prize many times since he returned to the Oval Office. “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize,” the president told reporters in February. “It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.” Just a day before the announcement, Trump told reporters that no one in history has solved eight wars in nine months. However, he added that whatever the committee decides is fine.
The prize comes with around a $1 million award. It is given every year to people who have done the most work for peace between nations. Four U.S. presidents have won the award. These include Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was the last Republican president to get it, back in 1906.
The White House quickly showed its disappointment with the decision. Communications Director Steven Cheung said the Nobel Committee had “placed politics over peace” by picking someone other than Trump.
“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” Cheung said. Trump has been busy with domestic policy fights as well, recently meeting with Republican lawmakers about his plans. Some experts said Trump might not even qualify for this year’s prize. Nominations were due just 11 days after he started his second term, before much of his recent peace work happened.
Published: Oct 10, 2025 01:38 pm