It looks like President Donald Trump has lost out on the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was awarded to Venezuelan pro-democracy activist Maria Corina Machado.
Speaking to reporters after the announcement, committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes explained why the United States President was overlooked and, possibly, never really in the running for the award.
“I think this committee has seen (every) type of campaign (and) media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people saying what, for them, leads to peace.” Frydnes said, adding, “But this committee sits in a room with the portraits of all laureates and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So, we base only our decision on the work and will of Alfred Nobel.”
READ: Nobel Prize 2025: Winners to be revealed next week; will Donald Trump receive one? (
María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan industrial engineer, politician, and prominent pro-democracy activist born in Caracas in 1967. She co-founded Súmate, an election-monitoring group, advocating for free and fair elections. Machado also founded the political party Vente Venezuela in 2012. In 2011, she was elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly with record votes but was later stripped of her mandate in 2014 after accepting a diplomatic post, seen as unconstitutional by authorities.
Known for her strong opposition to Venezuela’s authoritarian regime, Machado has been a leading voice pushing for democratic change and human rights. Despite being barred from the 2024 presidential race, she remains influential in the opposition movement. In 2025, she received the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing her courageous efforts to promote democracy and peaceful political transition. Machado has faced personal risks, including threats and exile of her allies, but continues to inspire resistance against dictatorship in Venezuela.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five original Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, in 1895. First awarded in 1901, it honors individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant efforts to promote peace, resolve conflicts, reduce armaments, or foster international cooperation. Unlike the other Nobel Prizes awarded in Sweden, the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway, by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Notable recipients include Martin Luther King Jr., Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, and organizations like the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The prize often recognizes efforts in human rights, disarmament, diplomacy, and humanitarian work. Winners receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary award. The Peace Prize is globally respected, though sometimes controversial, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of peace in international affairs.