The White House has sharply criticized the Nobel Committee, accusing it of prioritizing “politics over peace” after it awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado instead of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The announcement, made on Friday, October 10, 2025, recognized Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.”

The decision has drawn a mixed global reaction, with the Trump administration expressing disappointment over what it perceives as a political snub.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung condemned the Committee’s choice, saying, “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

In a statement posted on X, Cheung added, “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”

Despite the White House’s criticism, President Trump personally congratulated Machado, telling her she deserved the recognition, according to a senior official who spoke to CBS News, a BBC media partner.

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Trump’s pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize has long been public.

Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for mediating global peace efforts, including a recently brokered multi-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza announced just days before the Nobel award.

Following the deal, Trump declared, “Blessed at the Peacemakers,” as the White House hailed him as “the peace president.”

Foreign leaders have also voiced support for Trump’s nomination.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the American leader “was doing a lot to resolve complex crises,” to which Trump responded on Truth Social, “Thank you to President Putin!” alongside a video of Putin stating that the award “has lost credibility.”

Even Machado, after her win, praised Trump on X, writing, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!”

Trump later reshared her message on his platform.

However, Trump’s campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize faced procedural challenges.

Nominations for the award close on January 31 each year, only days after Trump assumed office for his current term.

The Nobel Committee then reviews and shortlists candidates between February and September.

Former U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, now Trump’s Secretary of State, had been among the lawmakers who nominated Machado in August 2024, highlighting her advocacy for democracy and human rights.

While Trump’s supporters argue he has significantly contributed to peace efforts, critics point to ongoing global conflicts — including the war between Russia and Ukraine — as evidence that his administration’s record remains controversial.

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Domestically, Trump’s strict immigration policies and his deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities have drawn condemnation from civil rights and humanitarian groups.

According to the Nobel Committee, the Peace Prize is awarded to individuals or organizations advancing disarmament, democracy, human rights, and global harmony.

To date, only four American presidents have received the prestigious honor: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, with Obama being the only one to win while still in office.

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White House structure for illustration purposes. PHOTO/White House X.