Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, recently announced as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has sparked international headlines by dedicating the prestigious award to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The conservative politician praised Trump for what she described as his “decisive support” in Venezuela’s ongoing struggle to restore democracy.
Machado, a long-standing critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, called the award a symbol of hope for the Venezuelan people and a recognition of their tireless battle for freedom. “We are on the threshold of victory,” she wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “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.”
In her post, Machado stated: “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause.”
Awarded for her efforts in “promoting democratic rights” in Venezuela, Machado has long been at the forefront of the opposition to Maduro’s authoritarian government, which has been widely condemned for human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, censorship, and extrajudicial killings. Global watchdogs and human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Maduro’s administration of undermining democracy and violating international norms.
Following disputed elections and a renewed crackdown on dissent, Machado has reportedly been forced into hiding, with sources close to her citing fears for her safety.
Machado’s dedication to Trump is not without precedent. Since Trump’s reelection, she has emerged as one of his most vocal international supporters, hailing him as a “visionary” and describing his return to the White House as the “biggest opportunity we’ve ever had” for regime change in Venezuela. She has also claimed to be in close contact with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a key figure in Trump’s foreign policy circle and the son of Cuban exiles.
Trump, who has never concealed his ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize himself, spoke about Machado’s gesture during a press conference at the White House on Friday. “The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it.’ A very nice thing to do,” Trump said.
While he stopped short of suggesting the award should have gone to him, Trump added: “I didn’t say ‘then give it to me,’ though, I think she might have. She was very nice. And I’ve been, you know, helping her along the way. They need a lot of help in Venezuela it’s a basic disaster.”
When pressed about his chances of receiving the Nobel himself, Trump gave a measured response: “I have no idea. I mean, look, I did settle Marco [Rubio] will tell you we did settle seven wars. We’re close to settling an eighth, and I think we’ll end up settling the Russia situation, which is horrible… I think we’ll settle that, so… I don’t think anybody in history has settled that many, but perhaps they’ll find a reason not to give it to me.”
Trump’s supporters, including his son Donald Trump Jr. and several high-profile MAGA figures, have repeatedly lobbied for his recognition by the Nobel Committee, citing his role in multiple international peace efforts, most recently a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Middle East.
Historically, five American presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002), and Barack Obama (2009). Each was recognized for efforts ranging from mediation in global conflicts to championing human rights and democratic values.
Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel recognition and her controversial dedication mark a new chapter in the international spotlight on Venezuela’s political crisis. While praised by many as a courageous figure in a country mired in authoritarianism, her public alignment with Trump has also drawn criticism from some quarters, particularly among those wary of politicizing the prestigious award.
As Venezuela remains in the throes of a deepening economic and political crisis, Machado’s recognition may galvanize both domestic and international support for renewed efforts toward democratic change and her alliance with Trump could become a defining feature of that campaign.
