Nobel Peace Prize goes to María Corina Machado
María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has been living in hiding and was briefly detained after resurfacing to oppose Nicolás Maduro’s planned third term, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes calling her a “brave and committed champion of peace” who keeps the flame of democracy burning. In a phone call from the Nobel Institute she dedicated the prize to the suffering people of Venezuela (and to President Trump), said “we are not alone,” thanked international supporters, and urged U.S. and regional backing for her country’s pro‑democracy movement.
Politics
International
📌 Key Facts
- The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
- Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes called Machado a “brave and committed champion of peace… who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”
- Nobel Institute director Kristian Berg Harpviken phoned Machado to inform her, noting her “tireless work” for democratic rights; video captured her emotional reaction and she called the prize “an achievement of a whole society,” saying “we are not there yet.”
- Machado — age 58 — remains in hiding (she was briefly detained earlier this year after emerging from months in hiding to rally opposition to Nicolás Maduro’s planned third‑term inauguration) and said the prize could offer “a lot of protection” while spotlighting Venezuela’s struggle; CBS aired her first U.S. interview in hiding in which she said “we are not alone.”
- Machado dedicated the prize to “the suffering people of Venezuela,” also mentioning and thanking U.S. President Donald Trump, and urged support from the U.S., Latin American nations and other democracies to help achieve freedom.
- The U.S. does not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s 2024 election and has recognized opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner.
- The Nobel Committee’s pick came amid public pushes to award the prize to Donald Trump — including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he formally nominated Trump and an Oct. 6 letter from Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum — but the committee’s choice rebuffed those efforts and the Nobel nomination deadline (Jan. 31) means some nominations would affect next year’s consideration.
- There were 338 total nominees for the 2025 Peace Prize (244 individuals and 94 organizations); a Washington–Ipsos poll found only 22% of Americans said Trump should win the prize (fewer than half of Republicans).
📰 Sources (7)
Maria Corina Machado says her Nobel tells Venezuelans that "we are not alone"
New information:
- Exclusive CBS interview quotes: Machado says the Nobel tells Venezuelans 'we are not alone' and calls it 'the biggest recognition to our people.'
- Machado says she spoke with President Donald Trump on Friday and thanked him 'from the bottom of the heart of Venezuelans.'
- She remains in hiding and says the prize may offer 'a lot of protection' while highlighting Venezuela’s struggle worldwide.
- Video described of Nobel Institute director Kristian Berg Harpviken informing Machado of the award and her emotional response.
Maria Corina Machado reacts to Nobel Peace Prize win from hiding: "We are not alone"
New information:
- CBS News aired Machado’s first interview with a U.S. outlet following her Nobel Peace Prize, conducted while she remains in hiding.
- Machado’s on‑record message — “We are not alone” — frames the award as support for Venezuela’s pro‑democracy movement.
- Piece reiterates her role and age (58) and that this was positioned as her only U.S. interview.
Video shows moment Nobel Peace prize recipient learns about honor
New information:
- Video captures Nobel Institute director Kristian Berg Harpviken informing Machado by phone of her selection and citing her 'tireless work' for democratic rights in Venezuela.
- Machado’s on-call reaction: she calls the prize 'an achievement of a whole society,' says 'we are not there yet,' and expresses gratitude on behalf of Venezuelans.
- In a subsequent X post, Machado dedicates the prize to 'the suffering people of Venezuela' and to President Trump, and urges support from the U.S., Latin American nations and democracies to achieve freedom.
- Context reiterated: the U.S. does not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s 2024 election and has recognized opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner; Machado remains in hiding.
Trump did not win 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
New information:
- Total nominees for the 2025 Peace Prize: 338 (244 individuals, 94 organizations).
- Washington–Ipsos poll: only 22% of Americans said Trump should win the prize (fewer than half of Republicans).
- Additional framing that the committee’s pick rebuffs Trump’s public push for the award; reiterates Netanyahu’s nomination and Trump’s prior criticism of Obama’s 2009 award.
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado
New information:
- Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes called Machado a “brave and committed champion of peace… who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”
- Adds context that Machado was briefly detained earlier this year after emerging from months in hiding to rally the opposition against Maduro’s planned third‑term inauguration.
Nobel Peace Prize goes to Maria Corina Machado, despite calls for Trump to receive the award
New information:
- Notes the Nobel nomination deadline (Jan. 31), clarifying Trump would be eligible for consideration next year rather than this year.
- Reports that Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum sent an Oct. 6 letter urging the Nobel Committee to award Trump the Peace Prize, including quoted language praising his role.
- Says Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump in July he had formally nominated him and handed him a copy of the letter sent to the Nobel Committee.
- Adds that when asked about the Peace Prize during a Cabinet meeting, Trump did not comment on the award and instead discussed potentially addressing Israel’s Knesset.