WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, told him that he was the one who truly deserved the honour.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Machado had been selected for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to promote democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
During a White House press conference, when asked about the award, Trump said:
“The person who won the Nobel Peace Prize called me and said, ‘I’m dedicating this to you — you were the one who truly deserved it.’”
Trump has often asserted that his administration’s diplomatic achievements, particularly in the Middle East, made him more deserving of the prestigious peace award.
US President Donald Trump said he respects the Nobel Committee’s decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, adding that he never sought the award for himself.
“I respect the committee’s decision. I never said the Nobel Prize should be given to me,” Trump told reporters. “But I’m proud that during my tenure, I helped prevent eight potential wars — including between Pakistan and India — and saved billions of lives.”
Meanwhile, Maria Corina Machado said she was dedicating the award to the people of Venezuela who have endured years of suffering, as well as to President Trump for his “decisive support” of their cause for democracy and freedom.
