Political leaders in Norway have condemned the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado's decision to present her Nobel peace prize medal to Donald Trump, with one calling it 'absurd' and another accusing the US president of being a 'classic showoff'. Machado gave the medal to Trump at the White House on Thursday, stating it was 'in recognition [of] his unique commitment [to] our freedom'. Trump later wrote on Truth Social that she 'presented me with her Nobel peace prize for the work I have done'.
The Nobel Peace Center said on social media that 'a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel peace prize laureate cannot'. The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute had already stated that the prize 'cannot be revoked, shared or transferred' when Machado first revealed her plan. Machado was awarded the prize in Oslo last month for her struggle against Nicolás Maduro's regime. Since then, Trump invaded Venezuela and removed Maduro, handing power to vice-president Delcy Rodríguez.
Kirsti Bergstø, leader of Norway's Socialist Left party, said: 'This is, above all, absurd. The peace prize cannot be given away.' She added that Trump's threats to invade Greenland demonstrated why he was not a worthy recipient. Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, leader of the Centre party, said: 'The fact that Trump accepted the medal says something about him as a type of person: a classic showoff who wants to adorn himself with other people's honours and work.'
Raymond Johansen, former governing mayor of Oslo and now secretary general of Norwegian People's Aid, called the situation 'unbelievably embarrassing and damaging', warning it could damage the reputation of the Nobel peace prize. He wrote on Facebook: 'The awarding of the prize is now so politicised and potentially dangerous that it could easily legitimise an anti-peace prize development.' The Norwegian foreign ministry declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Nobel committee.
