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The White House has vehemently denounced the Norwegian Nobel Committee's selection to award the prestigious peace award to a candidate besides Donald Trump.

Immediate Reaction Following Award Declaration

After Friday's announcement that Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado had earned the international recognition, top advisors to the American leader criticized the Norwegian committee as influenced by politics while the Scandinavian nation anticipated a possible official reaction from the US administration.

"The Nobel Committee showed they prioritize politics before peace," wrote a Trump aide.

Trump will "keep forging diplomatic solutions, ending wars, and saving lives," he added. "He demonstrates the compassion of a humanitarian, and there will not exist another like him who can achieve the impossible with the pure power of his will."

Background of the Former President's Nobel Efforts

Trump had publicly, though disdainfully, advocated for the prize, spearheading a Middle East ceasefire agreement before the recent declaration by the Nobel selection panel – a factor that international negotiators and past diplomats said played a role in his timeline for a truce.

The former commander-in-chief had also appealed to top Scandinavian diplomats and was supported for the honor by his political allies, who spoke publicly this timeframe to call for that the selection body award Trump for his contributions in Gaza.

Panel's Statement on Anti-Democratic Trends

In its statement, the Norwegian committee condemned the rising tide of anti-democratic governance in Venezuela and in nations around the globe. The sentiment was quickly seized upon by Trump's critics, who interpreted it as a relatively clear dig at the US president's use of the military in US urban areas and actions on his opponents at home.

"When authoritarians take control, it is essential to honor brave advocates of freedom who step forward and challenge," the committee wrote. "Democracy relies on citizens who refuse to stay silent, who take brave stands despite significant threat, and who make us aware that democratic rights must never be taken for granted, but must always be safeguarded – with dialogue, with courage and with resolve."

Expert Views on the Development

A senior research fellow, a specialist for the region at the Chatham House thinktank, suspected Trump would be "annoyed" by the outcome.

"He had lobbied openly for this award, even amplifying his role to peace globally. He has deployed considerable defense assets at significant political risk to him, quite frankly, off the coast of Venezuela. And then the thing he really wanted gets taken from him by the figure he is supposedly defending. I can't see how this will be received positively for a individual who shows disappointment on his openly."

Sabatini suspected Nicolás Maduro's administration would be displeased about the prize decision. "But it may even be – given Donald Trump's anticipated individual response to this – that it could even play a little bit to their advantage."