US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s involvement in endorsing Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado for the Nobel Peace Prize has come under scrutiny once more following her selection as this year’s laureate. Rubio, then a senator, co-signed a letter in 2024 urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to acknowledge Machado’s brave and selfless leadership in her campaign for democracy against President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The letter, endorsed by Rubio and other Republican legislators including Mike Waltz, Rick Scott, Mario Díaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Neal Dunn, Byron Donalds, and Carlos Gimenez, commended Machado for risking everything to uplift the spirits of the Venezuelan people. The lawmakers highlighted her unwavering dedication to reinstating democratic governance in Venezuela, emphasizing her nonviolent resistance against oppressive rulers and her work to garner international support for a democratic transition. Dated August 26, 2024, the letter lauded her as a symbol of hope and resilience embodying the core values the Nobel Peace Prize aims to recognize.
On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee honored Machado with the 2025 Peace Prize, recognizing her as a valiant champion of freedom who stands up against authoritarian regimes. This decision evoked mixed reactions in Washington, with the White House criticizing the committee for overlooking President Donald Trump, who had actively sought the prize and highlighted his involvement in brokering a Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the committee’s decision, stating, “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives… The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.” Trump, who began his second term in January 2025, has frequently taken credit for resolving various conflicts and had anticipated being passed over for the prize.
In response to the announcement, Machado, 58, expressed profound gratitude, viewing the award as a tribute to the broader pro-democracy movement in Venezuela. She humbly stated that she does not consider herself deserving of the recognition and dedicated the award to the suffering people of Venezuela and President Trump for his resolute support.
Having been barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential race and leading a clandestine existence since, Machado has personified resistance against the Maduro administration, which remains under severe US sanctions. The United Nations praised her victory as a reflection of the Venezuelan people’s strong desire for free and fair elections.
Rubio, a prominent advocate for Venezuela’s opposition, has lauded Machado’s leadership as a stark contrast to the Maduro regime and its global supporters who have contributed to the oppression and impoverishment of the Venezuelan population. The Nobel Committee expressed hope that the award would invigorate efforts for a peaceful shift from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela. However, uncertainties persist regarding Machado’s attendance at the December 10 ceremony in Oslo due to the risks she faces in her homeland.