Venezuelan opposition leader Machado ready to share Nobel Peace Prize with Trump
Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado, this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said in her first interview since Nicolas Maduro seized power that she would like to dedicate the award to US President Donald Trump.
The interview lasted ten minutes and was broadcast on Fox News, the New York Times reports.
"Since this prize belongs to the Venezuelan people, we want to share it with them," Machado said, adding that she had not spoken to Trump since receiving the award in October.
The politician also promised that the opposition would turn Venezuela into a US security ally, protect foreign investment and facilitate the return of "millions of Venezuelans who fled the country during Maduro's rule."
"We will leave behind all the destruction that this socialist, criminal regime has brought to our people, and we will transform Venezuela into the main ally of the United States in Latin America," she said.
Earlier, Donald Trump expressed conditional support for Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as an interim leader to replace Maduro. Regarding Machado, the US President noted that she "does not enjoy respect" among Venezuelans.
"She is a very nice woman, but she does not have support in the country," Trump said of her.
Who is Maria Corina Machado
Maria Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her active struggle for the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for promoting a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. After the announcement of the laureate, the White House stated that the Nobel Committee "puts politics above peace." However, Machado herself dedicated the victory to Donald Trump, emphasizing its symbolic nature.
What is known about Trump's desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize
In October 2025, the Norwegian Nobel Committee named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The award was awarded to Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado, recognizing her long and consistent work in defense of the democratic rights of Venezuelan citizens and efforts aimed at the peaceful and just transition of the country from dictatorship to democracy.
However, US President Donald Trump stated that he had counted on receiving this award. He was explained that the decision to award the prize was made long before the public announcement of the laureate, when Trump was just beginning his second presidential term.