The organisers of the Nobel Peace Prize have issued a firm statement clarifying that the prestigious award cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred. This comes after the 2025 laureate, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, publicly stated her desire to give her prize to former US President Donald Trump.
Machado's Controversial Offer
Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025, made her comments during an interview with Fox News last week. She expressed a wish to "give it to him [Trump] and share it with him" on behalf of the Venezuelan people, citing his "decisive support of our cause." Her award was initially viewed as a diplomatic snub to the White House.
The opposition leader's remarks followed US-led airstrikes and a raid in Venezuela on 3 January, which resulted in the seizure of the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro. Machado praised Trump's actions as "historic" and a "huge step towards a democratic transition." Trump, who has openly coveted the Nobel honour, said accepting it from Machado "would be a great honour." He is scheduled to meet with her in Washington this week.
The Nobel Committee's Unprecedented Clarification
In a rare move, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute felt compelled to release a detailed statement to address the situation. They emphasised that the rules governing the prize are unequivocal.
"The facts are clear and well established," the statement read. "Once a Nobel prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time."
The committee pointed to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, which state that "No action may be brought against the decision of the awarding committee in Stockholm or Oslo." They also noted that neither Alfred Nobel's will nor the foundation's statutes make provision for withdrawing a prize, and that no awarding committee has ever considered doing so.
Background and Ongoing Political Drama
Machado, who escaped Venezuela in December 2024 to secretly travel to Oslo for the award ceremony, has been a vocal supporter of Trump's military intervention in her home country. However, in a complex political twist, the Trump administration has so far withheld support for Machado to lead Venezuela, instead backing Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez.
The Nobel Committee typically avoids commenting on laureates' post-award actions, making this public clarification a significant departure from standard practice. It underscores the unprecedented nature of a laureate attempting to redirect the accolade.
This incident places the spotlight firmly on the intersection of international diplomacy, prestigious awards, and the volatile politics surrounding Venezuela's future.
