The Norwegian Nobel Institute has expressed strong disapproval following recent remarks by Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, who suggested she would like to “share” or transfer her prestigious award to U.S. President Donald Trump. In a formal statement issued on Friday, January 9, 2026, the Institute clarified that once a Nobel Prize is announced, the decision is final and cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to any other individual.
This rare public intervention by the Nobel Committee was a direct response to Machado’s interview on Fox News, where she praised President Trump for the successful U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Machado characterized Trump’s actions as a “historic step toward democratic change” and stated that the Venezuelan people wished to present him with the prize as an act of gratitude for dismantling the “narco-terrorist” regime.
While Machado had previously dedicated her prize to the people of Venezuela and President Trump shortly after the announcement in October 2025, her recent comments moved beyond symbolic dedication toward a literal transfer of the title. President Trump, who has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, told reporters he would be “honored” to accept the award from Machado during their upcoming meeting in Washington.
However, the Nobel Institute’s clarification serves as a firm legal and protocol-based boundary, noting that while laureates are free to use their prize money as they wish, the status of the laureate itself remains legally exclusive to the original recipient. The dispute highlights a growing rift between the traditional standards of the Nobel Committee and the unconventional diplomatic alliance between Trump and the Venezuelan opposition leader, especially as Trump continues to voice skepticism regarding Machado’s political standing within her own country despite her international accolades.
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