- The White House reacted sharply after the Nobel Committee’s surprise choice left Washington reeling, with officials accusing the panel of undermining genuine peace efforts
- President Donald Trump’s aides fumed over what they called a political snub, insisting his recent ceasefire deal in Gaza was a milestone
- The committee’s recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stirred fresh debate
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Washington – The White House has issued a blistering condemnation of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Source: Getty Images
This comes after it awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado instead of US President Donald Trump.
The announcement, made in Oslo on Friday, October 10, immediately sparked backlash from Washington.
Senior aides to Trump denounced the decision as politically motivated, arguing that his efforts to secure global ceasefires should have earned him the coveted honour.
In a statement on X, White House communications director Steven Cheung said the Nobel Committee had proved “they place politics over peace.”
Cheung further suggested that Trump would not be dumped by the snub, stating that Trump “will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.”
“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. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” he wrote.
Similarly, Trump’s envoy to Venezuela, Richard Grenell, who recently led talks with Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime, dismissed the award as meaningless.
“The Nobel Prize died years ago,” he posted online.
Why was Trump overlooked?
Trump had openly campaigned for the prize, touting his role in securing a ceasefire in Gaza announced just two days before the Nobel announcement.
The White House has hailed the truce as one of the president’s major foreign policy victories, describing it as the beginning of lasting peace in the Middle East.
Despite his vocal lobbying, Trump’s campaign for the Nobel faced procedural hurdles. Nominations for the prize closed on January 31, just eleven days after his return to office.
As reported by the BBC, this effectively excluded his recent diplomatic moves, including the Gaza ceasefire, from consideration.
However, Trump’s allies see the snub as part of a broader pattern of global institutions refusing to credit his achievements.
Four US presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize; Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, the only one to win while in office.
Trump, who has called himself the peace president, has long argued that he belongs on that list.
Why did Machado win the Nobel Peace Prize?
The Committee said Machado was recognised for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her courage in resisting Maduro.
The decision came at a tense moment for Venezuela, where opposition leaders continue to face arrests, surveillance, and censorship.
Source: Getty Images
In a statement, the Committee praised Machado and other courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist authoritarian leadership.
“Her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Despite not being a direct dig, some observers have interpreted it as a subtle jab at the Trump administration.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, Machado dedicated the award to the suffering people of Venezuela and to Trump for his decisive support.
US tech giants celebrate Trump
Elsewhere, at a White House dinner, US tech executives lavished praise on Trump, framing his leadership as a turning point for innovation and business.
Mark Zuckerberg sat beside Trump and praised the gathering as historic, while CEOs from Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and OpenAI voiced gratitude for policies they said encouraged investment and growth.
Apple CEO Tim Cook thanked Trump for creating a climate that supported US manufacturing.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
