Following the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement, which honored Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado, the White House issued a pointed response. A White House spokesperson declared that the Nobel Committee had once again “place[d] politics over peace.” The administration asserted that the President remains dedicated to “making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” characterizing him as possessing a “heart of a humanitarian.” The prize was awarded to Machado for her persistent advocacy for democratic rights in Venezuela and her pursuit of a peaceful transition away from dictatorship. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her for “keeping the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” In their citation, the Committee also addressed broader global concerns about the erosion of democracy, referencing the suppression of free media, imprisonment of critics, and the global trend towards authoritarianism, even amidst an increase in elections.
