Despite weeks of media hype and a relentless lobbying campaign, many longtime Nobel watchers argue that Donald Trump was never a serious contender for the 2025 Peace Prize. The selection of Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado confirms their long-held view that Trump’s style is fundamentally incompatible with the committee’s values.
These experts consistently pointed to Trump’s “America First” rhetoric, his withdrawal from international accords, and his frequent criticism of global institutions as insurmountable obstacles. The Nobel Prize, they argued, is designed to reward the exact opposite: international cooperation and fraternity.
While Trump’s supporters touted his diplomatic deals as groundbreaking, seasoned observers noted that the committee looks beyond the headlines. They analyze the sustainability of peace agreements and the methods used to achieve them. Trump’s often-unilateral and disruptive approach was always a poor fit.
The selection of Machado, a consensus-builder and democracy advocate, was seen by these experts as a predictable “course correction” away from the media-driven narrative. It was a return to the prize’s core mission of honoring those who engage in the patient struggle for human rights.
The White House’s surprised and defiant reaction suggests they believed their own hype. For the seasoned analysts of the Nobel process, however, Friday’s announcement was not a shock, but an expected and logical conclusion.
