Machado wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, dedicates to Trump amid tensions

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday and promptly dedicated the honor to the people of Venezuela and to former U.S. president Donald Trump, a move that has intensified diplomatic tensions and stirred controversy at home and abroad. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it chose Machado for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy." Machado, who has been living in hiding since 2024, issued the dedication on social media from an undisclosed location.

The announcement set off a wave of reactions. Machado called Trump to inform him of the award and posted her dedication online: "I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!" Trump told reporters he had spoken with Machado and relayed her message approvingly. The White House criticized the Nobel Committee's choice, with a spokesperson saying the decision placed "politics over peace."

Caracas responded by announcing a diplomatic reshuffle that includes the closure of Venezuelan...