"Trump Is Working for World Peace"... Nobel Peace Prize Winner Machado Reiterates Her Gratitude

"Trump Is Helping Venezuela's Political Situation"

Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has once again expressed her gratitude to Donald Trump, President of the United States.

In an interview with the Spanish-language edition of the BBC (BBC Mundo) on October 11 (local time), Machado said, "I am grateful for what President Trump is doing for global peace."

She revealed that she spoke with President Trump by phone after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, "I conveyed to President Trump how deeply the people of Venezuela appreciate his efforts for peace, freedom, and democracy not only in the Americas but around the world." Machado described her call with Trump as "very delightful," adding, "We were able to express our gratitude directly."

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado. Reuters Yonhap News.

Machado stated, "This award gives energy, hope, and strength to the people of Venezuela," and added, "It reminds us that we are not alone. Democrats around the world are standing with us in our struggle, and I believe President Trump and the international community are already providing support for Venezuela's political situation."

She also claimed, "The Venezuelan regime is financing itself through drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal oil trading." She appealed to the international community, saying, "Please block the flow of funds used for corruption, oppression, violence, and terrorism." She added, "If the flow of funds is cut off, the regime will collapse," and continued, "We are now witnessing those cracks deepen."

Machado Thanks Trump Immediately After Winning the Award

Previously, Machado also expressed her gratitude to President Trump immediately after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. In her acceptance remarks posted on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), she emphasized, "Today, more than ever, we consider President Trump, the American people, the people of South America, and the world's democratic nations as our key allies in achieving freedom and democracy." She also said, "I dedicate this award to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump, who has decisively supported our cause."

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by UPI News Agency

President Trump also shared that Machado called him and said, "I am receiving this award in your honor. You truly deserve it."

Machado is an opposition leader who has stood against the rule of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Last year, she ran for the presidency but was unable to campaign openly due to repression by the Maduro regime. She is currently in hiding in Venezuela, continuing her pro-democracy movement.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee selected Machado as this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate in recognition of her efforts to promote the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and to peacefully transition the dictatorship to democracy. President Trump was considered a leading candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, but ultimately did not win the award.