Nobel Peace Prize rules clarified after María Corina Machado hands medal to Trump at White House
The Nobel Peace Prize remains the one trophy that has consistently eluded Donald Trump’s mantle—a fact the President has made little effort to conceal. Yet, following a stunning diplomatic maneuver involving Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, Trump has found himself at the center of a Nobel controversy that is as unprecedented as it is legally complicated. While the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was officially awarded to Machado, the President has managed to symbolically claim the honor for himself through a gesture that has left historians and the Nobel Institute scrambling for a response.
The Conflict of the Laureate
When the Nobel Peace Prize was presented in Oslo on December 10, the Trump administration’s disappointment was palpable. The President, who had long campaigned for the honor, was vocal about his exclusion.
”When you put out eight wars, in theory, you should get [a Nobel Peace Prize] for each war,” Trump remarked publicly after Machado’s win. “It makes me feel so good. Not because of a Nobel Prize, but because I saved millions and millions of lives, and that’s what really makes me feel good.”
His frustration echoed comments made in February 2025, when he lamented to reporters, ”They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. I deserve it, but they will never give it.”
Instead, the Norwegian Nobel Committee bestowed the honor upon Machado, citing her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
A Medal Changes Hands
The narrative took a dramatic turn on January 15 during a high-profile meeting at the White House. In a move that shocked diplomatic observers, Machado physically presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump.
”I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters. According to NPR, she explained the gift was “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
The medal was accompanied by a framed inscription:
”Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.”
Trump quickly took to Truth Social to celebrate the exchange, posting: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
The “Heir of Washington”
Exiting the White House, Machado invoked 19th-century history to justify the transfer. She recalled how, 200 years ago, General Lafayette presented Simón Bolívar with a medal featuring George Washington’s likeness—a treasure Bolívar kept until his death.
“Actually, when you see his portraits, you can see the medal there,” Machado said. “It was given by General Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the United States… and the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny. And 200 years in history, the people of Bolívar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal… in recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
Geopolitical Pivot
This symbolic exchange comes at a delicate moment for Venezuelan-U.S. relations. While Trump previously dismissed Machado’s chances of leading Venezuela—claiming she lacked “respect within the country”—he recently confirmed a “long call” with acting President Delcy Rodríguez following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
“I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela,” Trump noted during an Oval Office signing ceremony. The thaw in relations followed Trump’s announcement that he had canceled a “second wave of attacks” on the country after the government released several political prisoners.
The Nobel Rules of Engagement
While the physical medal may now sit in the Oval Office, the official record of the Nobel Committee remains immutable. The selection process is a rigid, six-step journey governed by strict bylaws:
-
Nominations: Submitted by qualified individuals (members of national assemblies, professors, former laureates).
-
The Self-Nomination Ban: One rule is absolute—you cannot nominate yourself.
-
The Timeline: From the January 31 deadline to the October announcement and December ceremony, the process is designed for deliberation.
Can a Nobel Prize be Transferred?
The Norwegian Nobel Institute has been remarkably clear on the matter: No.
In a statement released shortly before the Machado-Trump meeting, the Institute clarified, “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Ultimately, while Donald Trump may possess the physical gold of the 2025 medal, the official annals of history will continue to list María Corina Machado as the sole laureate.
