Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Corina Machado Dedicates Award to Trump
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, dedicated the prestigious honor to President Donald Trump and praised his “decisive support” for the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom.
“This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” Machado said in a statement shortly after the announcement. “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.”
Machado, a longtime critic of the socialist regime of Nicolás Maduro, credited the Trump administration for standing firm against Venezuela’s dictatorship when much of the international community hesitated. “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!” she said.
During his presidency, Trump implemented some of the toughest sanctions against Maduro’s regime, including freezing assets and imposing travel bans on top officials. In August, the administration escalated pressure by placing a $50 million bounty on Maduro’s head, tying him to narco-terrorist activity. U.S. warships were also deployed to the Caribbean as part of a sweeping effort to disrupt Venezuelan drug trafficking routes.
The Nobel Committee cited Machado’s “unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and democratic principles in the face of brutal oppression” as the primary reason for awarding her the prize.
While global leaders offered praise, Machado’s explicit acknowledgment of Trump is expected to draw sharp reactions, especially from Western institutions that have largely ignored or downplayed his role in supporting democracy abroad. But for Venezuelans seeking liberation from Maduro’s grip, the message was clear: Trump’s pressure campaign left an impact, and Machado isn’t shy about saying so.