Overview

• María Corina Machado dedicated the prize to the people of Venezuela and to President Donald Trump, thanking him for his “decisive support.”
• The White House criticized the decision, asserting the Nobel panel put “politics before peace” by choosing Machado over Trump.
• Norwegian officials opened an inquiry into unusual pre-announcement wagering after Machado’s odds jumped overnight on Polymarket.
• The Nobel citation praised her “tireless work” for democratic rights, highlighting her leadership after being barred from the contested 2024 election and moving into hiding.
• Machado’s recognition follows major 2024 honors, including the Sakharov Prize and the Václav Havel Prize, for her human-rights advocacy.