'They place politics over peace': White House after Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize over Trump

“Once again, the Nobel Committee has proved they place politics over peace,” White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement Friday evening.

“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.”

Trump himself has not commented, though aides indicated a response may be forthcoming on his social media platform.

Nobel Committee honours Machado’s courage

In Oslo, the Nobel Committee praised Machado, 58, for her “extraordinary courage” in leading Venezuela’s democratic opposition against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime.

“Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country — a choice that has inspired millions,” said committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes.

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

The committee described Machado as a “key, unifying figure” for Venezuela’s fragmented opposition.

Trump’s failed peace campaign

The Trump campaign had publicly touted his record of “global peace initiatives,” claiming credit for mediation efforts in Ukraine, Gaza, and South Asia.

Earlier this year, Trump asserted that his administration had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, a military response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.

However, New Delhi firmly rejected those claims, stating that the cessation of hostilities was achieved only after a “direct request” from Islamabad, and not through U.S. intervention.

Similarly, Trump’s alleged role in ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza has been disputed. While a partial ceasefire was implemented in Gaza this week, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains ongoing despite repeated U.S. statements of progress.

Asked about overlooking Trump, Frydnes noted that the committee was guided by “the courage and integrity” of past laureates.

“I think this committee has seen every type of campaign and media attention,” he said in an apparent reference to the Trump administration’s overt lobbying.

The Nobel Peace Prize carries a cash award of $1 million and is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious honors.