‘Grateful for what he’s doing’: Machado dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, has expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his efforts toward peace, freedom, and democracy across the globe.

Machado, who has long opposed President Nicolás Maduro's 12-year rule, spoke with Trump by phone following the announcement of her award. During the call, she said she was "very glad" to have been "able to convey to him our appreciation" and tell him "how grateful the Venezuelan people are for what he's doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world for peace, for freedom, for democracy," says the BBC.

The Nobel Committee described Machado, 58, as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times." Nobel chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said she was recognized for "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy," adding that "despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions."

Machado, who has lived in hiding since being barred from last year's presidential elections, managed to unite Venezuela's fractured opposition behind Edmundo González. Although independent tallies suggested González won by a large margin, the government-controlled electoral authority declared Maduro the winner, prompting widespread international criticism.

Speaking after the award, Machado described the prize as "like an injection," saying it "infuses energy, hope, strength on the Venezuelan people because we realise that we are not alone." She added, "The democrats around the world share our struggle."

Calling Maduro's government "a criminal structure," Machado accused it of sustaining itself "on the criminal flows from their illicit activities." She urged the international community to "cut those flows that are not only used for corruption, but also for repression, violence and terror," arguing that "when you cut the inflows that come from drug trafficking, gold smuggling, arms smuggling, human trafficking, or the black market of oil, then the regime falls."

"And that's exactly what we're seeing, cracks that are getting deeper and deeper as we talk right now," she said.

The award comes amid renewed controversy over the Nobel Peace Prize process. Nominations closed just as Trump began his second term, and a White House official later said the "Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace." Trump has frequently spoken of his desire to win the award, claiming credit for ending seven wars.

Recent US actions in the region have also drawn scrutiny. US forces last week struck boats in international waters described as involved in "narco-trafficking," killing four people off the Venezuelan coast. Colombian President Gustavo Petro alleged one of the vessels was Colombian, "with Colombian citizens inside," a claim the White House dismissed as "baseless."

Machado's recognition by the Nobel Committee, and her outreach to Trump, highlight both the symbolic weight of her movement and the continuing geopolitical tensions surrounding Venezuela's struggle for democracy.