This clarification was a response to the statements made by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025. She had previously expressed her willingness to share the award with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The prize was awarded to Machado "for her tireless work in defending the democratic rights of the people of Venezuela and her struggle for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy." In response to receiving the award, she stated that she dedicates it to the "suffering people of Venezuela" and to Donald Trump for his support.
After the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by American special forces on January 3, Machado declared that "the time for freedom has come for Venezuelans." She also expressed the opinion that Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
For his part, Trump stated his intention to cooperate with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is an ally of Maduro, and noted that Machado lacks sufficient support in the country.
According to The Washington Post, Trump refused to support Machado because she did not agree to yield the Nobel Prize to him, which he wanted to receive. However, Trump himself noted that the awarding of the prize to Machado "did not affect my decision in any way."
