The Nobel Committee has awarded its prestigious peace prize to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who was banned from participating in last year’s disputed presidential elections. The decision comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate. In 2024, Donald Trump made Venezuela his favorite scapegoat for anti-immigrant policies, branding undocumented migrants as members of a feared transnational gang.
Since taking office, Trump has deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to internment in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. The Pentagon has also been attacking alleged narco-boats in the Caribbean, which were said to have left Venezuela as their ultimate destination. This has resulted in the deaths of 21 people.
Machado, a conservative politician, supports Trump’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the US military attacks on the country’s boats. She believes that the regime is in a state of deterioration and that a change is underway in Venezuela. Machado said that the Nobel Prize would be a “correct thing to do” for Trump, who has been working to solve conflicts around the world.
The decision has sparked controversy over US-Venezuela relations. Some have questioned why the Nobel Committee awarded the prize to someone who supports Trump’s policies. Others have praised Machado’s commitment to peace and democracy in Venezuela.
In a surprising twist, Trump recently congratulated Machado on her win, saying that she was accepting the prize “in honor of him.” The White House communications director later stated that the Nobel Committee had prioritized politics over peace, sparking outrage among some Trump loyalists who demand the President receive the award.
Source: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/why-maria-corina-machado-says-that-donald-trump-deserves-her-peace-prize