White House sources said that Donald Trump’s decision about Venezuela’s leadership came down to a personal grudge. The president was upset because someone else won an award he wanted badly, and this prompted him to take a crucial decision.
After the U.S. took over Venezuela on Saturday, Trump surprised many conservatives by saying no to Maria Machado leading the country. Machado is a politician from the opposition party, and President Nicholas Maduro was taken to New York to face drug charges.
Many conservative leaders saw Machado as the clear choice to replace Maduro. But Trump said she “doesn’t have the support or respect within the country.” However, two White House insiders told The Washington Post that his real reason was much more personal.
Trump’s Nobel Prize obsession shaped Venezuela’s future
“Two people close to the White House said the president’s lack of interest in boosting Machado, despite her recent efforts to flatter Trump, stemmed from her decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an award the president has openly coveted,” the Post writes.
“Although Machado ultimately said she was dedicating the award to Trump, her acceptance of the prize was an ‘ultimate sin,’ said one of the people.” The president didn’t want to support Machado because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, an award Trump has always wanted for himself. Even though Machado said she was dedicating the award to Trump, accepting it was seen as the “ultimate sin” by someone close to the White House.
Trump pushed hard to win the Nobel Peace Prize last fall but lost to Machado. She received the award in October. Machado has praised the Trump administration for its military actions in the Caribbean and threats against Venezuela, but accepting the prize was too much for Trump. Many observers have noted how this situation mirrors past predictions.
One White House insider told the Post that if Machado had refused the award and said Trump deserved it instead, she would be leading Venezuela today. The Norwegian Nobel Committee gave her the prize for her work promoting democratic rights for Venezuelans.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” the report reads.However, Machado has faced criticism for supporting right-leaning governments and backing U.S. sanctions against her own country. Trump’s earlier comments about the Venezuelan opposition leader’s standing raised questions about his true motivations. She has also made questionable claims, including saying that Hamas operates in Venezuela.
Published: Jan 5, 2026 03:45 pm