The Norwegian Nobel Institute has issued a definitive statement clarifying that Nobel Peace Prizes cannot be reassigned, transferred, or shared with other recipients. This announcement directly addresses recent remarks by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who expressed desire to gift her recently awarded prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In an official communication released Friday, the Institute emphasized that once the Peace Prize has been officially conferred, “the decision is final and stands for all time.” This policy clarification comes amid growing international attention on the Venezuelan political landscape.
Machado, during a Monday appearance on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, articulated her intention to potentially share the honor with Trump, citing his administration’s role in overseeing the capture of authoritarian Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro currently faces drug trafficking charges in New York federal courts.
“What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition,” Machado stated during the interview, characterizing the prize as fundamentally belonging to the Venezuelan people.
Despite these declarations, the Nobel Institute’s regulations render such transfers impossible. The development highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding Venezuela’s political future, with Trump subsequently expressing openness to receiving such an honor while simultaneously endorsing acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, as the appropriate transitional leader.
Trump characterized Machado as a “very nice woman” but questioned her current capacity to govern effectively within Venezuela, suggesting she lacks sufficient domestic support. The former president acknowledged Machado’s planned visit next week and described the potential Peace Prize offering as a “great honor.”