When the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement came out on October 10, it wasn’t just another international headline — it was a moment many had been waiting for, especially those watching to see if Donald Trump would finally get the recognition he’s been loudly campaigning for.
But once again, things didn’t go his way. The Nobel Committee awarded the prestigious honor to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader celebrated for her fearless defense of democracy and her push for peaceful change in a country long gripped by political turmoil.
A Brave Woman Chosen Over a Powerful President
At 58, Machado has become a symbol of resilience. After being barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, she continued her advocacy while living in hiding.
Despite immense personal risk, she never abandoned her mission to restore democratic rights to the Venezuelan people.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her as “a brave and committed champion of peace” who has worked tirelessly to achieve “a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes explained that Machado met all the criteria laid out by Alfred Nobel, adding that she has united the Venezuelan opposition and stayed true to peaceful means — even when violence and repression surrounded her.
In a heartfelt video shared by Edmundo González, who replaced her on the ballot last year, Machado was audibly stunned by the news.
“What is this? I can’t believe it,” she said in Spanish — a genuine moment of disbelief that reflected just how unexpected and emotional her win truly was.
Trump’s Disappointment — and the Committee’s Calm Response
While the world celebrated Machado’s courage, Donald Trump was left empty-handed once again.
The former U.S. president, now in his second term, had spent months repeating that he “deserved” the Nobel Peace Prize — citing his claimed successes in negotiating peace deals and ending “seven unendable wars.”
But Frydnes made it clear that public campaigning has no effect on the Nobel Committee’s decision.
“We base our decision only on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel,” Frydnes told reporters, noting that the committee has seen “every kind of campaign and media attention” over its long history.
He even mentioned that they receive “thousands of letters every year” from people arguing who or what truly leads to peace — but the process, he stressed, always remains independent, private, and deeply principled.
Trump’s Claimed Peace Achievements
Trump’s argument for deserving the prize centers around his administration’s role in brokering multiple international ceasefires and mediations.
Among the conflicts he claims to have helped resolve are:
- Israel and Iran, following regional tensions.
- Cambodia and Thailand, after years of border disputes.
- India and Pakistan, through diplomatic backchannel talks.
However, experts have pointed out that his involvement in several of these peace efforts was unclear or overstated.
For instance:
- Fighting continues between rival military groups in eastern Congo, contradicting his narrative of ending wars there.
- Egypt and Ethiopia’s dispute over the Nile River remains a tense diplomatic standoff, not a resolved conflict.
- And despite Trump’s claims, there was no actual war between Serbia and Kosovo to bring to an end.
To make matters worse, after mediating peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trump famously misspoke, referring to Armenia as Albania in a press statement — a gaffe that went viral and drew laughter from other world leaders.
Some Praise from Unlikely Voices
Interestingly, not everyone dismissed Trump’s peace efforts. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat known for his independent stance, admitted that if Trump’s diplomacy in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire truly succeeds, it could be Nobel-worthy.
“If this sticks,” Fetterman said, “I think the whole point of having a Nobel Peace Prize is for ending wars and promoting peace. And if he brings the Ukrainian war to its end, I will be the Democrat leading the committee for his Nobel Peace Prize.”
That kind of bipartisan acknowledgment is rare, especially in today’s political climate — showing that even Trump’s harshest critics can’t ignore progress when it happens.
Timing Worked Against Him
Unfortunately for Trump, timing wasn’t on his side. The Nobel Committee revealed that they had selected the 2025 Peace Prize winner on Monday, several days before Trump announced the first step of the new Israel–Gaza peace deal.
So even if his diplomatic move proves successful later, it simply came too late to influence this year’s selection.
Still, the snub stung. Trump has made no secret of his desire for the same recognition Barack Obama received in 2009 — an award he often brings up on the campaign trail, saying, “If my name were Obama, I’d have a Nobel in 10 seconds.”
Norway Braced for Trump’s Reaction
In the days before the announcement, Norwegian officials were reportedly on edge, fearing Trump’s response if he didn’t win.
Kirsti Bergstø, leader of Norway’s Socialist Left Party, told The Guardian that the country was preparing for possible outbursts.
“Donald Trump is taking the U.S. in an extreme direction… When the president is this volatile and authoritarian, of course we have to be prepared for anything.”
She clarified that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government, but added pointedly, “I’m not sure Trump knows that.”
Obama’s Legacy and Trump’s Longstanding Rivalry
Much of Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize ties back to his rivalry with Barack Obama — a feud dating back more than a decade.
Obama famously received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize during his first year in office, and Trump has publicly compared his own record against that decision ever since.
Their rivalry intensified after the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where Obama roasted Trump over the “birther” conspiracy — the false claim that Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
Obama quipped:
“No one is happier to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. Now he can finally get back to focusing on the important issues… like whether we faked the moon landing or where Biggie and Tupac are.”
Trump sat stone-faced as the room erupted in laughter, and according to many insiders, that moment ignited his determination to run for president.
