Trump spoke about a conversation with María Corina Machado, did not ask her to give anything

Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize

Donald Trump, the President of the USA, spoke about the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2025. That evening, he shared his thoughts with journalists.

Trump noted that Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan human rights activist who received the prize, expressed her gratitude to him. “She said: ‘I accept this award in your honor because you truly deserve it.’ That was very kind of her,” commented the president.

Reaction and Context

In a joking manner, Trump added that he did not ask for the award to be passed to him, although he suggested that Machado might agree. He emphasized his support for Machado and called the situation in Venezuela a “real disaster” requiring “great help.”

On October 10, Trump also thanked Vladimir Putin for his words that the Nobel Peace Prize “lost credibility” because it was not awarded to the American leader.

Criticism and Support

Steven Cheung, the president’s assistant and White House communications director, criticized the Nobel Committee’s decision. He expressed dissatisfaction that the prize went to the leader of the Venezuelan opposition and not to Trump.

Earlier, on August 13, the White House presented a list of world leaders supporting Trump’s nomination for the prize. Among them were the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Pressure and Consequences

On October 1, Trump stated that the absence of the prize would be an “insult” to the USA. He assured that he had done enough to receive it.

On October 4, Bloomberg reported concerns in Norway over Trump’s active campaign for the prize. On October 9, the Financial Times wrote about possible pressure on the Norwegian government, including threats of tariffs or sanctions.

These events highlight the complex relationship between politics and international awards, leaving room for reflection on influence and recognition on the world stage.