Nobel institute says prize cannot be transferred after Machado hands medal to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump yesterday (15 January) during a meeting at the White House, marking a dramatic political gesture that has drawn global attention and renewed clarifications from the Nobel Foundation.

Machado, who won the 2025 Peace Prize for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights" in Venezuela, told reporters she gave the medal to Trump as a symbol of appreciation for what she described as his commitment to freedom for the Venezuelan people.

In a social media post, Trump described the presentation as a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect" and confirmed he would keep the medal.

Despite the exchange of the physical medal, the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Nobel Committee have emphasised that the prize itself - including the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate - cannot be transferred, shared or revoked once awarded under the statutes of the Nobel Foundation.

"Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others," the institute said earlier this month in response to Machado's suggestion that she might offer the award to Trump following remarks on US television.

The Nobel organisation has made clear that while a physical medal can change hands between individuals, the official status of laureate remains with the person originally awarded the prize and is not affected by any subsequent actions.

Machado's gesture comes amid ongoing political shifts in Venezuela, where she has been a prominent opposition figure. Her relationship with Trump's administration has been complex, with Trump previously expressing interest in the Peace Prize and later prioritising engagement with other Venezuelan leaders.