Trump crushed María Corina Machado’s hopes of being Venezuela’s president ‘because she had the gall to accept the Nobel Peace Prize’ – 18 takedowns of President Petty
In the immediate aftermath of the US storming Caracas to snatch the Venezuelan president and his wife, there were questions over whether Trump would install his exiled Venezuelan supporter, the Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado.
Not only did he not do that, choosing instead to allow the VP to step in, despite American insistence that the Venezuelan election was stolen, but he actively disrespected María Corina Machado.
Trump on María Corina Machado: "I think it'd be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect." pic.twitter.com/jps4NBKLfp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2026
“She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country.”
As bizarre as it is that the US has any influence over the leadership of a sovereign South American country, it seemed stranger still that he wouldn’t try to install a supporter, but a Washington Post quote from ‘two people close to the White House’ confirmed many people’s suspicions as to why.
Sources close to the White House say Trump’s disinterest in boosting María Corina Machado was due her accepting the Nobel Peace Prize — an award he's openly coveted.
“If she had turned it down … she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” they said. https://t.co/4MwDqu4a9X
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 5, 2026
Policy driven by the petty jealousies of a tangerine man baby. Perfect! News may have got back to the exiled politician.
Pathetic — after reports Trump said no to installing MACHADO as president because she won the Nobel Prize he wants, she says she wants “to give it to him. Share it with him” pic.twitter.com/GGJddYFk1E
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 6, 2026
The internet reacted to the claim accordingly.
1.
Biggest child in the world
— DANNYonPC (@DANNYonPC) January 5, 2026
2.
Of course, this makes sense. We have a petty, deranged person in charge of the free world. I’ll never forgive the people who voted for Donald Trump. They did this to us. pic.twitter.com/6QxjucUlnF
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) January 5, 2026
3.
UNBELIEVABLE: The Washington Post reports that Donald Trump withheld support for María Corina Machado because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump’s explanation, per the report:
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be…— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 5, 2026
4.
Told. You. So. https://t.co/Gb8QZ7HloE
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 5, 2026
5.
Insanity: Sources close to the White House told the Washington Post Trump lost interest in backing Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to lead the country because she accepted her Nobel Peace Prize rather than demanding it be given to Trump, which was viewed as an… pic.twitter.com/FDVLJZCtJ9
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) January 5, 2026
6.
Why did Trump pick a left-wing authoritarian to rule Venezuela? Because the opposition leader won his peac prize. https://t.co/ZbcVJxo6qa pic.twitter.com/jO3Eu8HsPE
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) January 5, 2026
7.
Man really out here playing Nobel chess like it’s Risk
— Doran (@doranmaul) January 5, 2026
8.
The unfit narcissist's envy in full bloom: Punishing a democracy fighter for accepting a Nobel without declaring it "his." Petty ego over principle—disgraceful as ever.
— Dr. Cole (@1drcole) January 5, 2026
9.
Per WASH POST, Stephen Miller will play an “elevated role” in Venezuela (what could go wrong!) and Machado won’t be president because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Trump wants (yes, seriously)
Couldn’t make it up if we triedhttps://t.co/TDwS3F062V pic.twitter.com/0Q4LLDuQ5v
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 5, 2026