President Donald Trump has spent his first year in office claiming victories in wars and proclaiming his role in creating peace among warring nations, contending that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. However, this year’s prize was awarded to María Corina Machado—a Venezuelan opposition leader—garnering notable support from some of Trump’s own allies.
National security expert Marcy Wheeler noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio may face awkwardness due to his endorsement of a letter urging the committee to award Machado the peace prize, despite the submission coming before his time with Trump.
In a letter still visible on Sen. Rick Scott's (R-FL) Senate website, he and Rubio argued, "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."
"Gonna be an awkward day for Secretary of State-National Security Advisor-Acting Archivist Marco Rubio," Wheeler quipped in a Bluesky post.
Former Rep. Mike Waltz also signed the letter. He's currently Trump's United Nations ambassador.
Haaretz correspondent Ethan Nechin also commented in an X post, noting, "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."
"Rubio also wrote a tribute to Machado in Time magazine back in April," said CNN senior political reporter Aaron Blake.
At least one person on Trump's White House team appears to be taking the award for Machado as a snub of Trump.
Steven Cheung, White House communications director, said 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."
New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong shared the Rubio letter with the White House adviser.
"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," Wong told Cheung.
The nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize is Jan. 31. According to their website, the prize looks at work done the previous year.