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The Nobel Peace Prize That Wasn’t: Why Donald Trump Missed Out in 2025
For weeks, rumors swirled with mounting anticipation: could former President Donald Trump finally claim the elusive Nobel Peace Prize he’s long coveted? Whispers from behind closed doors suggested his name was under serious consideration.
Trump’s own team hinted that “big news” might soon come from Oslo. Yet when the Nobel Committee announced its decision, the world was taken aback — and Trump was once again left empty-handed.
Now, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has publicly addressed the choice that left many of Trump’s supporters questioning if politics played a part in the outcome.
The Award Goes to Maria Corina Machado
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was officially awarded to Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who has been in hiding since August 2024 amid the country’s controversial elections.
Machado was honored for her “tireless work in promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her courageous fight to bring about a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
An industrial engineer turned activist, Machado has been a relentless critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime. Despite facing threats, persecution, and political bans, she continues to advocate for free elections and human rights in one of the world’s most volatile democracies.
The award, hailed as a triumph for democracy, is expected to further strain tensions with Maduro’s government. The Nobel ceremony is scheduled for December 10 in Oslo.
Trump’s Claims vs. The Committee’s Rationale
Trump’s reaction to missing out is expected to be muted, if not outright critical. He has publicly insisted for years that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, often citing his diplomatic efforts as proof.
In February, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said bluntly, “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.”
Again, in August, he boasted of ending “six wars this year — no ceasefires, just real deals,” framing himself as a master peacemaker on the world stage.
More recently, Trump took credit for brokering a ceasefire and peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, posting on Truth Social:
“Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan. All hostages will soon be released, and Israel will withdraw its troops as part of a lasting peace. This is a great day for peace across the Middle East and beyond. Blessed are the peacemakers!”
Yet the Nobel Committee made it clear that the prize was awarded strictly on merit, rooted in the original vision set forth by Alfred Nobel.
Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said:
“Our decisions are guided solely by the will and principles of Alfred Nobel.”
He firmly denied any allegations that political considerations influenced the decision.
On social media, the Nobel organization underscored Machado’s selection:
“Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. Yet around the world, democratic institutions are under threat, and authoritarian regimes continue to rise. Maria Corina Machado has devoted years to defending the freedom of her people against these forces.”
They noted that despite a record number of elections worldwide in 2024, many were neither free nor fair — making Machado’s work all the more critical.
Conclusion
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize sends a clear message: global recognition is not awarded based on self-promotion or claims but on enduring courage in defense of democracy and human rights.
While Donald Trump continues to portray himself as a peacemaker, the Nobel Committee’s choice highlights a different truth — that true peace often starts with the fight for freedom and justice.
For Maria Corina Machado, the prize is a powerful validation of her lifelong struggle against oppression. For Trump, it marks yet another year of watching from the sidelines as history draws its own conclusions.