The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been announced. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 prize for her efforts against dictatorship in Venezuela, but the ceremony took an unexpected turn when she dedicated part of the recognition to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Machado, a 58-year-old industrial engineer who has lived in hiding since 2024 after Venezuelan courts blocked her from running for president, expressed gratitude to the Nobel Committee during a phone call shared on social media. “I thank you so much, but I hope you understand this is a movement, this is an achievement of a whole society,” she said.

In a statement posted on X, Machado emphasized her commitment to Venezuela’s struggle for freedom and highlighted Trump’s support for the opposition. “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause,” she stated.

The announcement sparked immediate reaction, with critics noting that Trump had long claimed he deserved the award. Machado’s remarks underscored her reliance on international allies, particularly the U.S., as Venezuela’s political crisis persists under President Nicolas Maduro’s rule.