The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred, following Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s offer to give her award to US President Donald Trump.
Machado, who was named the Nobel laureate in October, had told Fox News that she wanted to share the prize with Trump in recognition of his “decisive support” for Venezuela’s democratic transition. Trump responded that it would be “a great honour” to accept the award.
However, the Nobel Committee issued a statement emphasising that the prize rules do not allow such a transfer. “Once a Nobel prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others,” they said, adding that neither Alfred Nobel’s will nor the foundation’s statutes permit withdrawal of the award.
Machado, who fled Venezuela in December to attend the Nobel ceremony in Oslo, also praised Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Despite this, Trump has not backed her to lead the country, instead supporting Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez.
