The White House on Friday issued a sharp rebuke to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, accusing it of prioritizing “politics over peace” after US President Donald Trump’s administration was passed over for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The criticism followed the announcement that the 2025 award would go to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
A White House spokesperson, quoted by Reuters, stated: “Once again, the Nobel Committee has proved they place politics over peace.” The administration’s claim suggests the selection was motivated by political bias rather than a genuine commitment to global peace, despite President Trump’s repeated public assertions that his foreign policy efforts merited the award.
A Prize for Democracy and Courage
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, based in Oslo, awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democracy in Venezuela.
The committee specifically cited her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” Machado receives the prize, which is worth 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), for her efforts to promote democracy at a time when the global trend sees an increasing number of countries sliding into authoritarianism.
Machado is a prominent figure in the Venezuelan pro-democracy movement, known for her defiance of the repressive regime of Nicolás Maduro, enduring threats and political persecution. Her award is seen as a recognition of civilian courage and the defense of democratic principles against authoritarian rule.
Trump’s Long-Standing Nobel Ambition
The committee’s decision comes after months of speculation, largely fueled by President Trump’s public claims that he deserved the prize for various foreign policy achievements, including brokering peace deals. Just days before the announcement, a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, built on his administration’s plan, was approved, briefly increasing the fanfare around his possible candidacy.
However, Nobel observers had largely dismissed his chances. The committee’s deadline for nominations was January 31, meaning most of the high-profile endorsements and nominations citing his recent peacemaking efforts arrived too late to be considered for the 2025 prize. Furthermore, the Nobel Committee’s selection process focuses on the criteria laid out in Alfred Nobel’s will, which favors sustained efforts toward international fraternity and the promotion of peace congresses, ideals critics argue are undermined by Trump’s “America First” policies.
When asked about the lobbying effort, Nobel Committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes reportedly stated that the decision is based solely on the work and will of Alfred Nobel, adding that the committee’s room is “filled with both courage and integrity.”