Republicans responded with strong support and defense of President Donald Trump after Venezuelan opposition leader
María Corina Machado presented him with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal during a White House meeting on January 15, 2026. While Trump did not officially win the prize—which the Nobel Institute clarified is non-transferable—GOP reactions focused on his perceived deservingness and the symbolic importance of the gesture:
- Praise for the Gesture: Trump himself called the gift a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect" on Truth Social. Many Republicans viewed the handover as a legitimate recognition of Trump's "peace through strength" policies, specifically his role in the January 2026 military operation that led to the removal of Nicolás Maduro.
- Criticism of the Nobel Committee: Leading GOP figures and Trump’s communications team previously labeled the committee’s decision to award the 2025 prize to Machado instead of Trump as "politics over peace". Some allies, such as Richard Grenell, went as far as to say the "Nobel Prize died years ago".
- Continued Support for a 2026 Win: Several Republicans have already formally nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his brokering of ceasefires between Israel and Iran and between India and Pakistan. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna officially submitted a nomination recognizing his "unprecedented leadership in advancing peace
