Friday, October 30, 2026

Venezuelan opposition leader willing to share Nobel Prize with Trump after report indicates U.S. president was angry over it

“She doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country,” Mr Trump said on Saturday.

• January 6, 2026
Trump and Maria Corina Machado.
Trump and Maria Corina Machado.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, seeks to share the award with President Donald Trump after a report suggested the American leader was angered for being overlooked for the honour and also averse to the idea of her replacing Nicolas Maduro.

Ms Machado, who dedicated the Peace Prize to Mr Trump in October 2025, told Fox News on Monday that she was now willing to share the Nobel spotlight with him in appreciation for Mr Maduro’s ouster and liberation of the Venezuelan people.

“I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe, the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people, certainly want to give it to him, and share it with him,” Ms Machado said in an interview with Fox television on Monday.

She said the opposition would make the U.S. its “main ally” ignoring resistance from some of Venezuela’s current leaders who find the U.S. interference humiliating and disrespectful to the Latin nation’s sovereignty.

“We will leave behind all the destruction this socialist regime, criminal regime has brought to our people and turn Venezuela into the main ally of the United States in Latin America,” Ms Machado said.

Her offer to share the Nobel Peace Prize was perceived as a belated overture to curry Mr Trump’s favour after he ruled her out as Mr Maduro’s replacement but instead favoured vice president Delcy Rodríguez.

A Washington Post report said Mr Trump was angry when Ms Machado accepted the Nobel Prize, an award he long coveted, arguing his mediations to end several wars made him a more deserving candidate.

The report said Mr Trump considered her Nobel acceptance an “ultimate sin” and had expected Ms Machado to reject the prize, to give him.

Asked if he could back her presidential candidacy, Mr Trump said Ms Machado lacked the respect of her own people.

“She doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country,” Mr Trump said on Saturday. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.”

On Saturday, U.S. special forces invaded Venezuela and captured Mr Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. They were ferried to the U.S. to stand trial for narco-terrrorism at a federal court in Manhattan, New York.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

police

States

Police nab 14 suspects over attack on APC convoy in Katsina

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the incident occurred at about 11:00 a.m. on October 28.

President Bola Tinubu in Saudi Arabia

NationWide

Tinubu arrives in Saudi Arabia for Umrah

Mr Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria next week.

Kashim Shettima

Heading 3

Shettima reaffirms Tinubu’s commitment to welfare of community health workers

Mr Shettima noted that the services of health workers sustained primary care, universal coverage and health sovereignty.

Warredi Enisuoh at the event

NationWide

Tantita acquires more drones, AI systems to curb pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft in Nigeria

Mr Enisuoh lamented the alarming rate of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other illegal maritime activities

An overloaded bus used to illustrate the story

Heading 5

FRSC threatens punishment for overloading, mixed loading

Mr Mohammed said the corps would continue to enforce applicable regulations.

INEC Photo (Credit: Punch Newspapers)

Heading 5

Institute urges INEC to address logistics gaps ahead of 2027 elections

Mr Emeje said Nigeria was underutilising the courier, logistics, transport and management sub-sector.