164. María Corina Machado reveals her true colors

Although I am firm in my view that all awards are fixed in this world, from the best family in the colony to the Nobel Prize, I, like billions of people on this earth, bear the untruth and let it go.

So on October 10, 2025, I congratulated María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition politician, who had won the Nobel Peace Prize, even though I had no idea who she was.

All I knew was that the Western media called her Venezuela’s Iron Lady and had gone gaga over her incredible courage in fighting for democracy.

I didn’t believe the Nobel committee's statement, which called her “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America… a brave and committed champion of peace who had kept the flame of democracy burning amid growing darkness”. 

Why I didn’t believe, because the next sentence intrigued me, which goes like this – “Venezuela has evolved from a relatively democratic and prosperous country into a brutal, authoritarian state now facing a humanitarian and economic crisis. Nearly 8 million people have left the country. The opposition has been systematically suppressed through election rigging, legal prosecution, and imprisonment.”

When did Nobel Peace Prize organizers become so generous? There are countries and dictators against whom people are fighting, but nobody cares about them. Venezuela is nowhere near them. 

Today, the whole story is revealed. To begin with, first consider the context.

Trump has openly expressed his strong wish to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which is chosen by a five-member independent committee in Oslo. 

He has been actively pressuring leaders around the world to endorse his name – some have, and some haven’t, such as in India. 

He likely tried to pressure Oslo and the Committee members. They probably couldn’t say a direct No and offered excuses or asked him to wait a while, but they may have also consulted him about who should receive it.

And since a plan to topple the government of Venezuela was ready in the White House, and also María Corina Machado was to be asked to take an oath, Trump suggested her name for the Nobel.

Immediately after the announcement in a post on X, Machado said, “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 main allies to achieve freedom and democracy.” 

For María Corina Machado, now it is time to pay back.

In an interview, Machado says now she wants to “give it to Trump and share it with him on behalf of the Venezuelan people. What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition.” 

Asked whether he would accept the Nobel Peace Prize from Machado, Trump, who is meeting Machado in Washington soon, replied, “That would be a great honor.”

However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute have since warned that transferring the award in this manner would not be feasible. “Once a Nobel prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”

Machado has publicly supported Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela and the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro. 

So far, Trump has not endorsed her for leadership, but who knows?

The announcement by Machado itself is a consolation prize for Trump.

And let us say in unison, “To hell with the Nobel Peace Prize!”