In the wake of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the White House has sharply criticized the decision, accusing the Nobel Committee of “putting politics over peace.” 

Trump had long claimed that his office merited the prize, citing the administration’s role in mediating international ceasefires and peace agreements. But Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications, denounced the committee’s verdict on X, saying the decision reveals a bias against Trump’s achievements and suggests political motives in selecting laureates. 

The Nobel Committee, however, maintains that its selections are independent and grounded solely in contributions that align with Alfred Nobel’s vision. The move underscores a continuing tension between political claims of peace-making and the objective judgment of global institutions.

As reactions pour in, the controversy raises questions about how geopolitical ambitions, personal legacies, and peace efforts intersect in high-stakes prize decisions.