Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, sparking controversy. Critics pointed to her support for Israel and past calls for foreign intervention to oust Venezuela’s government.
Machado has become a key figure in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement. The Nobel Committee praised her for promoting democracy and resisting dictatorship. “She has kept the flame of democracy burning despite serious threats,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the committee chair. Machado has inspired millions by staying in Venezuela even while living in hiding.
The White House criticized the decision, saying it placed politics over peace. Machado later dedicated her award to President Donald Trump, who welcomed her gesture.
Critics highlighted Machado’s previous support for Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. She had described Israel as “a genuine ally of freedom” and even promised to move Venezuela’s embassy to Jerusalem if elected. She also sought international support from Israel and Argentina to help remove President Nicolás Maduro in 2018.
Human rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the award “unconscionable” and urged the Nobel Committee to reconsider. They argued the prize should honor someone who consistently defends justice, such as those opposing the ongoing violence in Gaza.
