The Norwegian Nobel Institute has firmly rejected suggestions that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado could transfer her recently awarded
Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring that the prestigious accolade cannot be revoked, shared or reassigned once declared [1].
In an official statement released on Friday, the institute said that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, the decision is final and stands for all time, in line with the statutes governing the awards. Committees responsible for Nobel decisions also do not comment on actions or remarks made by laureates after the prize has been conferred [1].
The clarification follows comments by Machado, the Venezuelan opposition figure who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote democratic rights and a peaceful transition in Venezuela, that she would ‘like’ to give or share her award with Trump. She made the remarks during a television interview earlier this week, expressing gratitude for U.S. actions in Venezuela and saying she believed the gesture would reflect the wishes of the Venezuelan people [2].
Donald Trump, who has publicly expressed interest in receiving a Nobel Peace Prize and has touted his administration’s foreign policy achievements, said he would be honored by such a gesture if Machado pursued it. However, the Nobel Institute’s statement makes clear that no formal transfer of the prize is legally or procedurally possible.
Machado, who dedicated her Nobel award to both the Venezuelan people and Trump shortly after its announcement, has become a polarizing figure amid Venezuela’s ongoing political turmoil. The Tunisian-born leader fled Venezuela to accept the prize in Norway and has voiced plans to return home to continue her political struggle [3].
The Nobel Institute’s response closes the door on the idea of a post-award reassignment, reaffirming that laureates retain the honor individually and it cannot be modified after the announcement [1].
Links
- https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nobel-institute-says-peace-prize-cannot-be-transferred-after-machado-suggestion-2026-01-10/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Nobel Institute says Peace Prize cannot be transferred after Machado suggestion"
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maria-corina-machado-cant-give-nobel-peace-prize-to-trump-organization-says/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Machado can't give Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, organization says - CBS News"
3.https://apnews.com/article/c7f47c161edc9b719dea3d0165f32a1f?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Nobel Institute says Venezuelan leader Machado can't give Peace Prize to Trump"
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