President Donald Trump has denied reports that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was sidelined because of her Nobel Peace Prize win, insisting the award played no role in his decision-making.
Addressing the controversy, Trump insisted the accolade had "no bearing" on his geopolitical strategy, though he offered a pointed critique of the laureate, remarking that she “should not have won” the prestigious award.
Responding to claims that her receipt of the prize influenced U.S. policy, Trump said the Nobel had "no bearing" on his geopolitical strategy.
He nevertheless criticised the decision to award it to Machado, saying she "should not have won".
His remarks followed a report by The Washington Post, which suggested Trump withheld support for Machado because she accepted the prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize is an honour Trump has repeatedly said he believes he deserves, having publicly criticised the Norwegian committee in the past for overlooking him.
Citing sources close to the administration, the newspaper reported that Machado’s acceptance of the award was viewed as her "greatest sin" in Trump’s eyes.
It said the decision was interpreted as a personal affront, despite Machado dedicating the prize to the U.S. president.
The report added that had she declined the Nobel, she might now be leading Venezuela, following the power vacuum created by the detention of socialist leader Nicolás Maduro.
The dispute comes at a critical moment for Caracas. After Maduro’s detention by U.S. authorities, governments around the world have been seeking ways to stabilise Venezuela.
Machado, who has spent years uniting opposition forces against the Chavista movement, has been widely viewed by international observers as the most credible figure to lead a political transition.
However, hesitation in Washington has complicated the process, raising questions about whether personal grievances are shaping U.S. foreign policy.
UK government response
While the U.S. position remains uncertain, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has moved to engage with Machado.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that London has established formal contact with the opposition leader.
"Her unwavering fight for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela, and against repression, is inspiring," Cooper said, adding that the UK would remain in close contact in the coming weeks.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrai...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the ...
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 p...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
Mexico and the U.S. are racing to secure a trade deal before the U.S. midterm elections in less than eight weeks, according to six sources familiar with the talks, with failed negotiations between Washington and Canada adding urgency.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 people have been evacuated and six have died, the country’s search and rescue agency said on Sunday.
China will lead the creation of an open source platform among BRICS members to promote cooperation on large language models, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from a ferry fire on Saturday (12 September), taking the death toll to 76, while 13 people remained unaccounted for as forensic teams worked to identify the victims.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment