White House flagged the dismissal of former U.S. President Donald Trump from the Nobel Peace Prize nomination, praising Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado as the award’s recipient.
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Venezuelan Opposition Leader
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Corina Machado, a leading opposition figure against the Maduro government in Venezuela. She served as a deputy in the National Assembly from 2011 to 2014. The prize recognized her relentless work for democratic rights and her fight for a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Trump’s Reaction and U.S. White House Response
Donald Trump dismissed the Nobel nomination, stating on X that “whatever the members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee do will be fine.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung criticized the Committee on 10 October, asserting that President Trump will continue to forge peace agreements, end wars, and save lives; he claimed that no one, unlike Trump, could move mountains with sheer willpower, suggesting the Committee prioritizes politics over peace.
Nomination Process and Timeline
Trump’s candidacy was submitted in December by Republican congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York, citing his mediation of the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020.
The president was also nominated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Pakistani government in June, but the deadline for nominations—31 January—had passed.
Statement by Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair
Joergen Watne Frydenes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praised Machado as one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Latin America in recent times.
Context of Abraham Accords and Trump’s Influence
Trump’s role in the Abraham Accords has been highlighted as a key factor in his nomination, underscoring his involvement in shaping regional peace initiatives.
