Venezuelan opposition leader Mar&iacute;a Corina Machado on Friday hailed her Nobel Peace Prize win as a recognition of the Venezuelan people&rsquo;s decades-long struggle for freedom and democracy. In a passionate statement, she expressed gratitude to the international community and highlighted the crucial support of former US President Donald Trump in their fight against authoritarian rule.
&ldquo;This immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to complete our task: to achieve Freedom,&rdquo; Machado wrote on X. &ldquo;We are on the threshold of victory, and today more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies in achieving Freedom and democracy,&rdquo; she added. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom. We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic&hellip;
&mdash; Mar&iacute;a Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaCorinaYA/status/1976642376119549990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Machado, an industrial engineer by training, has long been a vocal critic of Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro. In 2024, she was barred by the country&rsquo;s courts from running for the presidency, preventing her from directly challenging Maduro&rsquo;s decade-long rule. She has also faced repeated threats, brief detention, and periods in hiding due to her opposition to his government.
Her Nobel win comes amid a contentious global debate. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded her the Peace Prize &ldquo;for her efforts to achieve a just and peaceful transition of power in Venezuela,&rdquo; choosing her over Trump, who had actively lobbied for the honor.
The White House criticized the committee&rsquo;s decision, defending Trump&rsquo;s record on international diplomacy, including his claimed role in mediating several global conflicts. &ldquo;President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,&rdquo; the White House Director of Communications posted on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in, writing, &ldquo;The Nobel Committee talks about peace. President @realDonaldTrump makes it happen. The facts speak for themselves. President #Trump deserves it.&rdquo;
The Nobel announcement comes as Machado continues to challenge Maduro&rsquo;s third-term election victory, which international observers and opposition leaders have widely denounced as fraudulent. Trump&rsquo;s team has called Maduro an illegitimate leader and expressed support for Machado as a democratic alternative.
&ldquo;This award is not just mine,&rdquo; Machado said in her statement. &ldquo;It belongs to every Venezuelan who refuses to give up. Venezuela will be free.&rdquo;

Machado Hails Nobel Win, Backs Trump as Key Ally

Venezuelan opposition leader calls Nobel a boost to the fight for freedom and democracy

Machado Hails Nobel Win, Backs Trump as Key Ally

Venezuelan opposition leader calls Nobel a boost to the fight for freedom and democracy

October 11, 2025 | 01:56 IST