Marco Rubio Lead the Campaign to Get Venezuela's María Corina Machado the Nobel Peace Prize Openly Coveted by Trump

A letter dated August 26, 2024, addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee and publicly shared in October 2025, names María Corina Machado as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. It is signed by the current Donald Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Florida Republican leaders U.S. Senator Rick Scott, along with Representatives Mario Díaz‑Balart and María Elvira Salazar.

In it, they describe Machado's "courageous and selfless leadership and unyielding dedication to the pursuit of peace and democratic ideals." They argue that her resistance to the Nicolás Maduro regime "serves as a reminder of the power of individual bravery in the quest for justice."

One passage of the letter, held in the archives of Senator Scott, reads, "María Corina Machado's peaceful resistance to tyrants and her ability to organize and lead a non‑violent movement for democracy and human rights is exemplary." The letter also states, "We hope that the Nobel Committee will recognize Venezuelan María Corina Machado's remarkable contributions and grant her the distinction she so rightly deserves." These lines have become central in debates about Rubio's alignment within the Republican Party.

Rubio's decision to sign that nomination is being scrutinized now more than ever, given that Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2025. She accepted the prize not only as a personal honor, but as recognition of Venezuela's struggle for democracy amid authoritarian repression.

The problem? Trump hasn't been shy about his desire to receive precisely that award. The reactions online show how friends and foes were more than aware of it, and all wonder if this will have an impact in the Administration.

Why She Was Nominated: Venezuela's Crisis in 2024

Machado's nomination came at a critical moment. In July 2024, Venezuela held a presidential election in which the government barred her from running. Instead, she led the opposition in support of Edmundo González, whose presidential campaign and vote tallies she claimed showed a landslide victory. The National Electoral Council declared Nicolás Maduro the winner, triggering mass protests, boycott of official results by opposition groups, and accusations of electoral fraud. (Wikipedia 2024 election; PolicyCenter article)

That period was marked not only by protests but also by widespread reports of arrests, disappearances, and human rights violations. A Human Rights Watch report titled "Punished for Seeking Change" documented killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions following the 2024 election. (HRW)

During that time, Machado went into hiding and published open letters calling for international scrutiny. She and her team claimed they had preserved vote tallies showing González's victory, accusing Maduro's regime of manipulating the process.

It was in this environment of repression, electoral crisis, and rising opposition momentum that Rubio and others signed the nomination letter, framing Machado's nonviolent leadership as a beacon in a region destabilized by autocracy.

Machado Mentions Trump, and MAGA is not happy

When the Nobel was announced, Machado addressed Trump directly. Through social media, she wrote, "Today more than ever we count on President Trump, the people of the United States (...) and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies in achieving Freedom and democracy."

Her message seems to address whatever feelings Trump could have about her recognition by the Nobel Committee and underscores an appeal to Trump's influence and power, connecting her victory to expectations of external support for democratic transitions in Venezuela.

However, Trump's supporters aren't happy about the Nobel Comittee's decision, starting with his own White House Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the Nobel Committee of prioritizing "politics over peace."

"So this letter was sent two months after President Trump assassination attempts in Butler Pennsylvania, risking his life to protect this country. This is an insult! The enemy from inside. These scumbags are two-faced," wrote a MAGA member.

"At least we know Rubio knows right from wrong. We know he knows how to fight for democracy. He needs to show that courage now in the face of DTs authoritarian dissent," added a Trump critic.

Is Marco Rubio career over?

Importantly, this interaction occurred after Rubio's nomination and before Trump's own public campaign for the Nobel after his second inauguration. While Trump had for years expressed interest in winning the prize, citing his diplomatic and peace efforts, and in multiple public statements he called it "a great honor" and asserted that his foreign policy moves merited the award, it was only after he returned to the White House in January of 2025 that the efforts became full throttle.