Former President Donald Trump was not the one who won the Nobel Peace Prize this year. His aides and supporters have been very vocal in attacking this move. The Nobel Committee did decide to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado. In awarding her the honor, they commended her tireless advocacy for democracy and freedom amidst Venezuela’s current and ongoing political crisis.
As you can probably guess from his territory, Machado’s choice as the award winner has sparked fury among Trump supporters. They are clamoring to shame the Nobel Committee into politicizing the prestigious award. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, slammed the committee’s move. He said it proves they care more about politics than genuine moves towards peace.
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” – Steven Cheung
While in office, Trump went to great lengths to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He pointed to his administration’s achievements in brokering several peace agreements, including a widely-criticized pact with militant rulers of Gaza. Just prior to the Nobel Prize announcement, Trump’s administration pushed through this deal, further solidifying his stance on international diplomacy.
Lara Trump, a prominent supporter and relative of the former president, asserted that her father-in-law deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than anyone currently alive. And she took the members of the committee to task, too. She recommended they convey contempt for Trump, attributing that need to what she termed “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“He deserves it more than anyone alive on this planet right now … But we know these people who establish who wins the Nobel peace prize hate Donald Trump – they suffer from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’. And in our hearts he will be winning the Nobel peace prize … and I hope he wins it in the future.” – Lara Trump
Vladimir Putin, the other member of this alliance of autocrats and strongmen, chimed in on the controversy, as well. He further claimed that it was Trump who made great progress in addressing multifaceted global challenges. These problems have festered for years and in some cases even decades. In addition, Putin lambasted the Nobel Committee for past awards given to people he felt did not deserve the award.
“There have been cases where the committee has awarded the Nobel peace prize to people who have done nothing for peace.” – Vladimir Putin
The Norwegian Nobel Committee justified their selection of Machado by emphasizing the importance of recognizing individuals who resist authoritarianism and advocate for freedom. In their strong opening statement, they reminded the world that democracy needs bold champions who are willing to stand up to repressive governments.
“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,” – Norwegian Nobel Committee
Despite Trump’s significant lobbying efforts with senior Norwegian officials for the Nobel Prize, his political allies have expressed frustration over the committee’s decision. Richard Grenell, Trump’s former special envoy, echoed sentiments of dissatisfaction with the outcome, further reflecting a broader sense of grievance among Trump’s supporters.
The move to award the prize to Machado has drawn the ire of Trump’s camp. It has made timelier a debate about the political meaning of such awards and their relevance to today’s geopolitics. Critics of Trump are taking this opportunity to buttress their arguments against the president’s foreign policy initiatives. At the same time, they are challenging his broader leadership approach.