The involvement of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio in nominating Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for this year's Nobel Peace Prize has once again drawn attention. Rubio co-signed a
urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to recognize Machado's 'courageous and selfless leadership' in the fight for democracy against President Nicolás Maduro's regime.
The letter was also signed by then-Senator Rubio, along with fellow Republican members of Congress Mike Waltz, Rick Scott, Mario Diaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Neal Dunn, Byron Donalds, and Carlos Gimenez. It praised Machado for putting everything on the line to reignite the waning enthusiasm of the Venezuelan people.
The lawmakers wrote, "She has remained steadfast in her commitment to restoring democratic governance in Venezuela." They referenced her 'peaceful resistance to tyrants' and efforts to garner global support for democratic change. Written on August 26, 2024, the letter describes her as 'a beacon of hope and resilience', embodying the principles the Nobel Peace Prize seeks to honor.
Source: aajtak
On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado the 2025 Peace Prize, recognizing her as an 'undaunted defender of freedom', opposing authoritarian leadership. This honor elicited mixed reactions in Washington, as the White House criticized the committee for overlooking President Donald Trump, who had publicly advocated for the award and boasted about his role in the Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreements earlier this week.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung posted on social media, "President Trump will continue brokering peace agreements, ending wars, and saving lives. The Nobel Committee has shown they prioritize politics over peace."
Trump has long credited himself with ending numerous conflicts and recently expressed his expectations of being "overlooked" again.
