Machado’s win is underscored by a sweeping conflict in Venezuela, where the country has been entangled in a political and humanitarian crisis for years, only worsening under the presidency of Nicolás Maduro.

But for Venezuelan opposition leaders, Trump could be a key bulwark against the Maduro regime. The president has been a vocal critic of Maduro’s presidency, and cut off diplomacy with the country recently. The Trump administration has called for the arrest of Maduro for drug trafficking, offering a $50 million reward this summer for information leading to his arrest.

The administration has continued to carry out strikes on Venezuelan boats in international waters that it says contain “narcoterrorists” responsible for smuggling drugs into the U.S. — a claim Maduro vehemently denies and attacks many former GOP officials fear could be illegal.

Trump reposted Machado’s recognition of him to Truth Social, but didn’t comment on her remarks. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also took to X on Friday morning to slam the Nobel committee for placing “politics over peace” in their selection.