A Surprise Choice Sparks Political Reactions
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela, praising her as “a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”
The decision immediately raised questions about how U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long coveted the prestigious award, would react to once again being passed over.
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A Blow to Trump’s Nobel Ambitions
For Trump, the announcement marks the latest in a lifetime of perceived rejections by the global elite. He has repeatedly claimed that his foreign policy achievements — including interventions he says “ended seven wars” — deserve Nobel recognition.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump told attendees that “everyone says” he should receive the prize. His efforts to win it have been unusually direct and public, described by Committee secretary Kristian Berg Harpviken as “extraordinary” in an interview with Bloomberg News in Oslo.
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White House Pushback Begins
A swift response came from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, who posted on X that the committee had “proved they place politics over peace.”
For Trump — a leader deeply attuned to branding and global prestige — the Nobel carries a special significance. Its global reputation as a symbol of moral authority is something he has long sought to associate with his presidency.
An Obsession Rooted in 2009
Trump’s fixation dates back to 2009, when his political rival Barack Obama received the prize just months into his first term. Even Obama’s allies acknowledged that the award was largely a repudiation of the Bush administration rather than a reward for concrete achievements.
For Trump, that moment reinforced his belief that the Nobel system is rigged in favor of establishment figures, leaving outsiders like him on the margins.
Geopolitical Ripples: Norway and the World Watch Closely
In Norway, politicians are reportedly bracing for the possibility that Trump could retaliate symbolically or economically — perhaps through tariffs or by targeting Norway’s sovereign wealth fund — though the president has never suggested any punitive action against Oslo.
More broadly, world leaders are watching to see whether the loss affects Trump’s willingness to engage in joint diplomatic initiatives. With Russia’s war in Ukraine ongoing, there is concern that Trump — who has previously indicated he might scale back support for Kyiv and “let the countries fight it out” — could retreat further from coordinated global efforts.
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