Maria Corina Machado told CBS News on Friday that being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize serves as a message to her fellow Venezuelans that “we are not alone.”
“They have been part of this huge movement,” Machado told CBS News by Zoom.
“This is certainly the biggest recognition to our people,” Machado told CBS News, which was the only U.S. media outlet to speak to her following Friday’s announcement.
Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for keeping “the flame of democracy burning amidst a growing darkness,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Friday in a statement.
Machado told CBS News she spoke to President Trump on Friday and thanked him “from the bottom of the heart of Venezuelans.”
Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Corina Machado told CBS News on Friday, is a way to let her fellow Venezuelans know that “we are not alone.”. “,”.
Machado told CBS News via Zoom, “They have been part of this huge movement.”. “We are not isolated. The entire world is aware of this epic battle. “,”.
The leader of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement, Machado, has been forced to live in hiding due to the country’s cruel dictatorship.
Machado said, “This is definitely the biggest recognition to our people,” to CBS News, the only U.S. S. . media outlet to interview her after the announcement on Friday.
The 58-year-old Machado, who has been dubbed Venezuela’s “Iron Lady,” has spearheaded a significant political movement opposing the nation’s autocratic rulers for more than 20 years.
She first ran against former President Hugo Chavez and now against President Nicolas Maduro, whose contentious reelection in July 2024 was not accepted by the U.S. A. instead proclaimed the victor to be the now-exiled opposition leader Edmundo González.
The Trump administration has put pressure on Maduro’s government for a number of months by sending warships to the southern Caribbean and attacking alleged drug boats that it claims came from Venezuela.
Congress was informed by the White House last week that the U. S. . was involved in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels for which it has issued terrorist designations.
Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for maintaining “the flame of democracy burning amidst a growing darkness,” according to a statement released by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday.
The emotional moment Machado accepted the award over the phone from Kristian Berg Harpviken, the Norwegian Nobel Institute’s director, was captured on camera.
“Dear God. There are no words I can say. On the call, Machado said, “Thank you so much.”. “I hope you recognize that this is a movement and a triumph for society as a whole. Since I am only one person, I most definitely don’t deserve this. Oh my God. “.
Machado has paid a price for his disobedience. Due to Maduro’s repeated threats to have her arrested, she has been hiding for the past year.
During the previous year’s presidential elections in Venezuela, when Maduro declared victory in spite of the international condemnation of fraud, CBS News was with Machado.
Maduro persisted despite the intensification of her crackdown on dissent.
Machado said, “I think it does give me a lot of protection,” referring to how winning the Nobel Prize might have altered her security and future. The most significant aspect, however, is that it draws attention to the significance of Venezuela’s struggle on a global scale. “.
Machado told CBS News that she thanked President Trump “from the bottom of Venezuelans’ hearts” during their conversation on Friday. “.”.
Mr. Trump can “be sure that we are a society committed to freedom, that we will prevail,” she claimed to have told him. “,”.
