The Norwegian Nobel Institute issued a rare clarification this week, confirming that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred to another individual under any circumstances. The statement follows public remarks by Venezuelan opposition figure and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, who signaled she was willing to symbolically give her prize to United States President Donald Trump ahead of their expected meeting in Washington.
Machado had portrayed the idea as a gesture of appreciation for the U.S. military raid that captured longtime Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last month, a development that opened a new chapter in Venezuela’s political crisis.
Official Clarification from Oslo
The Nobel Institute said the rules governing the award are definitive, noting that prizes cannot be revoked, reissued, divided after the announcement, or reassigned to another person. The organization further stressed that committees that select laureates do not typically address political commentary from prize recipients after the awards have been conferred.
While the statement did not directly criticize Machado, it was widely interpreted as a response to her remarks on U.S. television earlier in the week, where she hinted she hoped to honor Trump during their upcoming engagement.
Washington Reacts to the Proposal
President Trump, who has repeatedly expressed interest in securing a Nobel Peace Prize over the course of his political career, responded favorably when asked about Machado’s idea during a media appearance. He described the symbolic gesture as an “honor” and praised Machado for her leadership during Venezuela’s prolonged democratic struggle.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly later amplified the sentiment, asserting that Trump’s foreign policy had already earned him “multiple Nobel Peace Prizes in spirit,” citing U.S. diplomatic pressure, economic leverage, and military operations that she argued had resolved or de-escalated long-standing conflicts.
Kelly added that the administration’s focus was not on accolades, but on “ending human suffering and stabilizing regions in turmoil.”
Machado Gains Broader Support from U.S. Officials
Machado has drawn significant attention from lawmakers in Washington following Maduro’s capture and the formation of a transitional political structure in Caracas. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida praised Machado’s perseverance, stating that she had “validated the results of Venezuela’s election for the world” even after being barred from running in 2024 by Maduro-aligned authorities.
Salazar also predicted that the meeting with Trump would be productive, emphasizing that Machado now played a central role in Venezuela’s political transition. The Congresswoman noted she had been in contact with Machado during periods when the opposition leader operated from hiding due to security risks.
Venezuela’s Uncertain Path Forward
Although Maduro is no longer at the helm, power remains in the hands of figures aligned with his administration, including Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello. Members of Congress have cautioned that the situation remains fluid and that the U.S. government must navigate developments carefully.
Salazar expressed optimism that American detainees would be released and political prisoners freed, though she urged patience as Venezuela’s internal restructuring continues.
Context Behind Machado’s Proposal
Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for mobilizing democratic movements against authoritarian rule and for organizing a broad coalition of opposition groups despite systemic political repression. Maduro’s removal by the United States shifted the geopolitical outlook in Venezuela and elevated Machado as a potential transitional figure at a moment of rapid change.
Her idea of symbolically gifting the prize to Trump underscores her strategy of cementing international partnerships as Venezuela attempts to rebuild political institutions and reestablish global legitimacy after years of unrest.
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