Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado handed over her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on Thursday. The medal was mounted inside a large gold display frame with an inscription thanking Trump “on behalf of the Venezuelan people” for his role in supporting efforts to remove Nicolás Maduro from power.
President Trump later shared the moment on social media, saying Machado presented him with her Nobel medal as recognition for his “work” and calling the gesture “wonderful.” Trump also recounted that Machado praised him during the meeting, telling him that no one in history was more deserving of the prize.
The symbolic handover came less than two weeks after a short U.S. military operation in Venezuela toppled Maduro’s government. Trump then backed interim President Delcy Rodríguez to manage the transition, rather than Machado, who had long led the country’s pro-democracy movement.
Norwegian Leaders Object to Transfer
The handoff of the physical medal drew swift criticism in Norway, where the Nobel Peace Prize is administered. Political figures argued the move risked distorting the intent of the award.
Kirsti Bergstø of Norway’s Socialist Left Party called the act “absurd,” insisting “the peace prize cannot be given away.” Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum accused Trump of embracing honors that belong to others, describing him as a “showoff.”
Raymond Johansen, former Oslo mayor and now head of Norwegian People’s Aid, went further, warning the episode could harm the prestige of the prize and turn it into a politicized tool.
Norway’s foreign ministry declined to comment, noting the prize is independent of the government. The Nobel Committee also did not immediately issue public remarks.
Institutions Clarify Prize Rules
Hours later, Nobel institutions moved to clarify public confusion. The Nobel Peace Center stressed that while a medal can be physically transferred, the prize title itself cannot, and remains permanently attached to the laureate.
The Nobel Committee echoed that position, reaffirming longstanding guidelines that the award cannot be shared, revoked, or transferred. However, it also noted there is no rule preventing a laureate from disposing of their medal as they see fit. The committee cited historical examples, including the case of literature laureate Knut Hamsun, who sent his medal to Joseph Goebbels during World War II.
Shift in Trump’s Approach to Machado
Following the exchange, Trump’s tone toward Machado appeared to soften noticeably. Earlier in January, he had cast doubt on her suitability to lead Venezuela, suggesting she lacked support inside the country. After receiving the medal, Trump described Machado as a “fine woman” and praised their meeting while stopping short of endorsing her for political office.
A U.S. official confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Caracas to discuss ongoing cooperation with interim President Rodríguez.
Speaking at an event in Washington, Machado referenced Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election, drawing parallels to contested U.S. elections and arguing Trump would “understand” her experience. She also criticized remaining Maduro-aligned figures as tied to Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran.
A Debate Over Symbolism and Influence
The gesture capped months of mutual political courtship. Trump publicly sought a Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, while Machado dedicated her award to him shortly after winning it in October of that year. Conservative U.S. media personalities later floated the idea that Machado might hand the medal directly to Trump.
Analysts argue the episode raises broader questions about political symbolism, foreign influence, and the potential use of prestigious awards for diplomatic leverage. Legal experts noted the U.S. Constitution prohibits presidents from accepting gifts from foreign states but added that past opinions found Nobel Prizes do not qualify as foreign state gifts.
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