The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Oct. 10 that the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, rather than US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly publicly expressed his desire to win the award. The White House criticized the Nobel Committee on social media for placing "politics over peace."
Ironically, the United States has long supported the Venezuelan opposition in an attempt to overthrow the Maduro government. In January of this year, Trump posted on social media in support of Machado. Some analysts pointed out that Trump might retaliate against Norway for not winning the award by imposing measures such as additional tariffs, and could even declare Norway an "enemy state."
Machado entered politics in 2002. She won the opposition presidential primary in 2023 but was later banned from holding public office. She was replaced by Edmundo González Urrutia in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, who ultimately lost to incumbent President Nicolás Maduro. Machado appeared and was arrested during protests ahead of Maduro's inauguration in January this year, but was released shortly after.
This year's Peace Prize attracted significant external attention because Trump repeatedly mentioned that he "ended multiple wars" and deserved the award. After the Peace Prize winner was announced, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted on X: "The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace."
Ironically, the United States has long supported the Venezuelan opposition against the Maduro government. In January of this year, Trump posted on social media supporting Machado, claiming: "The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly supports a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me."
American netizens dug up this post and joked, "Trump campaigned for Machado for the Peace Prize." Another netizen said Trump certainly wouldn't say such things today because he is carrying out large-scale deportations of Venezuelan immigrants.
Norway fears US tariff hikes
When asked about the reasons for Trump not being selected, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, did not answer directly. However, he said that the committee has witnessed various lobbying campaigns and intense media attention in the past, but the room where the committee deliberates is hung with portraits of winners and filled with courage and integrity.
The leader of Norway's Socialist Left Party and foreign policy spokesperson, Kirsti Bergstø, warned that Trump is pushing the US in an extreme direction, allowing masked agents to kidnap people in broad daylight and suppressing institutions like the courts. He stated that the Nobel Committee is an independent institution, and the Norwegian government is not involved in the Peace Prize selection process, but he's "not sure Trump knows that."
Trump's displeasure over Obama's award
The Nobel Committee consists of five members who create the shortlist, which is then assessed and background-checked by permanent advisors and external expert groups. The nomination deadline for the Peace Prize is January 31 each year; this year, there were 338 nominations. Since July this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and others have publicly nominated Trump for the Peace Prize, but their nominations will not be considered until next year.
After Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced a first-phase Gaza ceasefire agreement on Oct. 9, Trump again pressured the Nobel Committee. He claimed: "Nobody in history has solved eight wars in a period of nine months. And I've stopped eight wars." He also targeted former Democratic US President Barack Obama, complaining that Obama won the award without doing anything.
In 2009, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize less than nine months after taking office, sparking major controversy. Even the liberal media outlet The New York Times considered the decision rash.
Al Jazeera pointed out that Trump's claim of ending "eight wars" does not hold up to scrutiny. Including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most of the "peace agreements" are incomplete, have fragile prospects, and some conflicts hardly qualify as wars.
"Peace promotion" achievements are largely inflated
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: While Israel and Hamas reached a first-phase Gaza ceasefire agreement, and Trump announced the news to claim credit, Israel's continued attacks on Gaza rely precisely on military aid provided by the US government. Furthermore, many details of the ceasefire agreement remain unclear, and its implementation is yet to be seen.
Iran-Israel Conflict: In June this year, Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day conflict. Trump ordered US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, after which Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. However, no lasting peace agreement was reached, the Iranian nuclear issue remains unresolved, and the ceasefire could be broken at any time.
India-Pakistan Conflict: In May this year, India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day conflict. After a ceasefire agreement was reached, Trump claimed credit, but India denied this.
Thailand-Cambodia Conflict: In July this year, the two countries experienced a border conflict. Trump threatened to halt trade negotiations if they did not cease fire, prompting both sides to accept a ceasefire agreement. However, the agreement did not resolve the border dispute, and tensions between Thailand and Cambodia continue.
Armenia and Azerbaijan: In August this year, Trump hosted the leaders of both countries at the White House to sign a statement of intent regarding peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. However, constitutional and border issues between the two countries were not resolved, and the conflict did not completely end.
DRC and Rwanda: In June this year, the foreign ministers of both countries signed a peace agreement at the White House, but this agreement did not truly end the conflict; it is merely a fragile political framework.
Egypt and Ethiopia: The two countries had a diplomatic spat during Trump's first term over Nile water resources, with Ethiopia criticizing Trump for inciting confrontation at the time.
Serbia and Kosovo: Serbia and Kosovo did not experience any major military conflicts this year.
Comment