Despite an intense and public campaign, the Nobel Peace Prize slipped through Donald Trump’s fingers on Friday. The coveted 2025 award went instead to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan democracy advocate, in a decision that highlights the Nobel committee’s distinct values and priorities.
Trump’s push for the prize had been relentless, reaching a peak after his involvement in a Gaza ceasefire proposal was met with international approval. His supporters saw the award as a fitting acknowledgment of his “America First” diplomacy, which they argue successfully disrupted traditional, ineffective foreign policy norms.
However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee opted for a more traditional laureate. Machado was honored for her long-standing, non-violent struggle for democratic rights in Venezuela. The committee praised her for unifying the opposition and consistently advocating for a peaceful transition of power.
The White House was quick to respond to the snub, issuing a statement that framed Trump as a leader undeterred by the opinions of international committees. The message was clear: his work of “ending wars, and saving lives” would continue with or without a Nobel medal.
Nobel experts had long predicted this outcome, noting that the committee tends to reward those who strengthen international fraternity and institutions. Trump’s often-unilateral approach, while producing some results, was always seen as a poor fit for a prize centered on cooperation.
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