President Donald Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night that he would be honored to accept the Nobel Peace Prize if this year’s recipient chose to give it to him, a remark that came moments after he declared that the United States is once again “based on merit.”
The exchange unfolded during an interview on Fox News Channel’s Hannity and followed recent controversy surrounding Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Machado had publicly dedicated her award to Trump, saying he deserved the honor for his role in liberating her country.
Last week, however, Trump undercut speculation that Machado could assume leadership in Venezuela, saying she “doesn’t have respect” in her country. Reports later suggested that Machado’s failure to refuse the Nobel Prize outright may have contributed to Trump’s decision not to back her. In response, Machado told Hannity that she would be happy to hand the prize over to the president.
During Thursday’s interview, Hannity pressed Trump directly on the issue. The president responded positively when asked whether he would accept the award and whether he planned to meet with Machado.
Trump said he understood that Machado would be visiting soon and that he looked forward to greeting her. He acknowledged hearing that she wanted to give him the Nobel Peace Prize and said accepting it would be “a great honor.”
Earlier in the exchange, Trump emphasized what he described as a return to merit-based leadership in the United States. “But this country is now based on merit again,” he said, setting the tone for the discussion.
Hannity reminded viewers that Machado had won more than 92 percent of the vote in 2023 to lead the Venezuelan opposition but was barred from appearing on the ballot by the Maduro government. He also noted that Machado had repeatedly said she wanted Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to liberate her country.
Trump responded by shifting the focus to his broader foreign policy record, claiming credit for ending multiple global conflicts. He said he had put an end to “eight wars, eight and a quarter,” adding that tensions between Thailand and Cambodia had flared up again. When Hannity offered to display a list of the conflicts Trump was referencing, the president encouraged him to do so, calling it “a hell of a list.”
“We—I’ve stopped eight wars,” Trump said, doubling down on the claim.
The assertion that Trump ended eight or nine wars has been disputed repeatedly, even as the president continues to cite it as evidence of his foreign policy accomplishments.
The conversation highlighted Trump’s long-running frustration with what he views as a lack of recognition for his international efforts, as well as his openness to accepting high-profile accolades tied to those claims. While Machado’s offer remains symbolic, Trump made clear that he would welcome the gesture and view it as validation of his record.
The interview also underscored the complex political dynamics surrounding Venezuela, Trump’s role in recent events there, and the growing debate over who deserves credit—and recognition—for developments on the world stage.
