US President Donald Trump on Friday spoke about this year’s Nobel Peace Prize in a mix of pride and jest, saying Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado “personally called” him and claimed she accepted the award in his honour. The remarks came after the White House criticised the Nobel Committee for overlooking Trump, despite his claims of brokering peace deals around the world.
Trump highlights his peace efforts
Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, credited himself for several international ceasefire initiatives, including negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. In the video posted on X he said, “The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honour of you," Trump told reporters. “It’s a very nice thing to do. I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she might have. She was very nice.”
The White House had earlier slammed the Nobel Committee for its decision, claiming politics had prevailed over peace. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X, “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.”
Machado recognised for her courage
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, citing her as a “courageous defender of freedom who rises and resists” against authoritarian regimes. Trump, who campaigned for the prize himself, expressed understanding that the award nomination primarily covered activities in 2024, when he was running for office. “I was running for office in ’24. But there are those that say we did so much that they should have done it,” he remarked.
Despite his claims, Trump acknowledged the committee’s decision, framing it as an oversight while reiterating his own record of international peace efforts. The controversy underscores his continued penchant for intertwining personal narrative with global diplomacy.
