The Norwegian Nobel Institute reiterated that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked, following statements by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado suggesting that she might award her prize to US President Donald Trump.
In a statement, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified that the statutes of the Nobel Foundation make the award decisions final and without appeal. The institution also emphasized that it does not comment on the positions taken or actions of laureates after the prize has been awarded.
The controversy arose from an interview in which María Corina Machado, a central figure in the Venezuelan opposition and winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, raised the idea of symbolically handing her prize to Donald Trump, as a sign of recognition for his role in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
When asked about this possibility, the opposition leader indicated that the process had not yet been initiated. Donald Trump, who has often expressed his interest in the Nobel Peace Prize and linked it to claimed diplomatic successes, stated that he would be honored by such a gesture.
The Nobel Institute, however, put an end to any interpretation, reiterating that the legal framework of the prize prohibits any transfer or sharing, regardless of the laureates' intentions. This clarification aims to preserve the integrity and independence of the Nobel process.
Barred from running in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, María Corina Machado remains a major opposition figure, supporting an alternative candidate whose victory was claimed by his supporters despite Nicolás Maduro's official proclamation. Independent observers have since noted irregularities in the official results.
