Donald Trump has given his reaction following Vladimir Putin’s comments, where the Russian President appeared to support Trump after he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
On Friday, October 10, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
In response, Putin criticized the decision, stating it has undermined the ‘credibility’ of the prize.
In a statement to the press, Putin remarked, “There have been cases where the committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to people who have done nothing for peace. In my view, these decisions have done enormous damage to the prestige of this prize.”
While in Tajikistan, Putin praised Trump, saying he is “truly doing a lot to resolve complex crises that have dragged on for years, even decades.”
Trump had expressed his belief that he was deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
Putin continued, “He’s definitely trying, he’s definitely working on these issues, on achieving peace and resolving complex international situations. The most striking example is the situation in the Middle East.
“If Donald can achieve everything he’s strived for, everything he’s talked about and is trying to accomplish, it will be a historic event.”
However, Putin emphasized, “But, I repeat, it is not for me to decide whether this is worthy of a prize or not, and whether this prize is worthy of achievements of this kind. That said, the credibility has largely been lost.”
Trump responded positively to Putin’s comments.
He shared on Truth Social: “Thank you to President Putin!” and included a video of Putin’s response.
In the meantime, Machado expressed gratitude to Trump for his ‘decisive support’ of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement, dedicating her award to him.
She posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump.”
“We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy,” she added.
Trump had previously mentioned that Machado reached out to him after her win.
In a statement from the White House, he shared, “The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said ‘I’m accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it.’ A really nice thing to do.
“I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me’, though.”
Nevertheless, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, defended their selection.
He explained, “In the long history of the Nobel Peace Prize, this committee has seen [every] type of campaign.
“We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year, of people wanting to say what, for them, leads to peace.”
“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates and that room is filled with courage and integrity. We base our decision only on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”
However, Steven Cheung, Trump’s Director of Communication, commented: “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”