Donald Trump has spent years arguing he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, citing everything from foreign policy deals to “ending wars.” But this year, the prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado — and now an old letter is coming back to haunt some of his closest political allies.
A letter still publicly available on Sen. Rick Scott’s official Senate website shows that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with several Republican lawmakers, formally backed Machado’s nomination. The letter praises her fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, calling her one of the most morally courageous leaders on the global stage.
“In our work as policymakers who strive for democracy and human rights in the face of dictatorial regimes in the Western Hemisphere and beyond, we have rarely witnessed such courage, selflessness, and firm grasp of morality as we have in María Corina Machado,” the letter reads.
It’s the kind of praise Trump expects to be directed at himself — not someone he’s never mentioned and who poses no benefit to his political narrative. Worse for him, some of the same lawmakers who backed Machado are now key players in his administration or close orbit.
One of them is former Rep. Mike Waltz, now serving as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, who also co-signed the letter.
The backlash from inside Trumpworld started almost immediately after the Nobel announcement.
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, dismissed the decision on X: “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”
That’s a bold response — especially considering the nomination of Machado was supported by Trump’s own allies.
Marcy Wheeler, a national security expert and frequent critic of the president, called out the contradiction, posting on Bluesky: “Gonna be an awkward day for Secretary of State-National Security Advisor-Acting Archivist Marco Rubio.”
Even journalists couldn’t help but notice the political irony.
Haaretz correspondent Ethan Nechin joked on X, “Wait until Trump hears Marco Rubio was among those nominated Mariá Corina Machado. That’s going to be one awkward ride to the Middle East.”
The nomination itself wasn’t a secret. According to the Nobel Committee, the deadline for nominations is January 31, and they evaluate work done in the previous year. Rubio didn’t just sign a letter — he also wrote a tribute to Machado for Time magazine in April, further cementing his public support.
CNN’s Aaron Blake pointed out: “Rubio also wrote a tribute to Machado in Time magazine back in April.”
And when the White House pushed back on the Nobel decision, New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong didn’t let it slide. He posted the actual letter on X, tagging Cheung directly and writing: “Marco Rubio co-signed a letter in support of the nomination of María Corina Machado for the Nobel Peace Prize. Here’s the letter he and several other GOP lawmakers sent to the Nobel committee last year. Mike Waltz also co-signed the letter.”
So now Trump is left watching from the sidelines — furious, while the Nobel Peace Prize goes to someone backed by members of his own team.
Whether this turns into a bigger issue inside Trump’s circle remains to be seen. But the political contradiction is glaring: while Trump stews over what looks like a public snub, his own allies are on record praising—and even nominating—the woman who just won the prize he wanted.
