'You really deserved it': Trump says Nobel Peace Prize laureate praised him despite not winning
Trump: "The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said 'I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it.' A really nice thing to do. I didn't say 'Then give it to me, though.'" pic.twitter.com/NsMY97IP2J
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has broken his silence after the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, 58.
During a press briefing on Friday, October 10, the Republican leader revealed that Machado apparently told him, "I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it."
The Nobel Committee has drawn backlash from Trump supporters for awarding the prize to Machado.
Trump says Maria Corina Machado called him after Nobel Peace Prize win
Speaking about the results of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Donald Trump said, "The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said, 'I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it.' A really nice thing to do."
“I didn’t say ‘then give it to me’ though. I think she might have, she was very nice. I’ve been helping her along the way. They need a lot of help in Venezuela; it’s a basic disaster,” he added.
In an attempt to explain the committee's decision, Trump then said, "It was given after '24, and I was running for office in '24... There are those who say that we did so much that they should have done it."
Possibly referring to the Israel-Hamas deal, which was mediated by him, Trump went on to say, "I'm happy because I saved millions of lives."
Earlier, the White House communications director Steven Cheung responded to the Trump snub by writing on X (formerly Twitter), "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 insisted.
President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 10, 2025
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. https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE
Maria Corina Machado dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to Trump
Reacting to being named the winner on X (formerly Twitter), Maria Corina Machado wrote, “This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom."
This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025
We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic…
“We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy," she continued.
Machado ended with, "I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!"
The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained in a press statement why Machado was awarded the coveted prize.
"She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 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," they said.
