Tharoor Criticizes Trump Receiving Nobel Peace Prize from Venezuelan Opposition Leader

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticized the move by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to personally hand over her Nobel Peace Prize to former US President Donald Trump, calling it “a collision of Venezuela’s desperation and American ego.” Tharoor described the act as a display of shameless politics, while using strong language to highlight Trump’s handling of the episode.

‘Machado’s Shameless Political Act’

Writing for NDTV, Tharoor remarked that Machado’s decision to present her Nobel medal at the White House was “a political performance so shameless it resembled performance art.” He emphasized that the gesture was aimed at winning attention in Washington, adding that it reflected Venezuela’s desperation and an attempt to curry favor with the global stage through a Nobel accolade.

Trump’s Role and Venezuelan Politics

Tharoor noted that Trump had previously sidelined Machado in favor of Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, whom he fully supported in Venezuela, citing that Machado lacked sufficient backing among the Venezuelan populace. According to Tharoor, Machado’s action smacked of flattery for political gain, while Trump, by accepting the medal, added yet another item to his “expensive collection” of accolades.

‘The Art of Theft’

Tharoor also described Trump’s acceptance of the Nobel medal as an example of “the art of theft”, suggesting it was a symbolic acquisition rather than a recognition of genuine merit. He further remarked that although Machado physically handed over the medal, the recognition originally awarded to her remained unchanged according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, underlining that the medal’s transfer did not alter its original recipient.

Diplomatic and Global Implications

Highlighting the episode’s broader political message, Tharoor remarked that the act illustrated “a mix of desperation and ego” in international politics, with leaders using symbolic gestures to achieve attention and influence, while ethical considerations and diplomatic norms were often sidelined.