Mario Díaz-Balart receives 2026 Champion of Freedom Award

Republican Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart was honored with the 2026 Champion of Freedom Award by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) during a ceremony at the Freedom Tower in Miami. The award recognizes his career-long advocacy for human rights, fundamental liberties, and opposition to authoritarian regimes.

Díaz-Balart emphasized the importance of continued United States support for those fighting oppression in the Western Hemisphere, specifically mentioning Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He noted that NED programs often operate in regions where direct U.S. government intervention is not possible, linking these democratic efforts to national security.

The event included messages of support from various international figures, including former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, former Colombian President Iván Duque, Taiwanese Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The choice of the Freedom Tower as a venue held symbolic significance, as the site served as a refugee center for Cuban exiles between 1962 and 1974.