Nobel Foundation Affirms Peace Prize Non-Transferability After Machado's Gesture to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado recently presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House. Machado stated that the gesture was "in recognition [of] his unique commitment [to] our freedom."

In response, the Nobel Foundation issued a statement emphasizing that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred or shared. The Foundation stated, "A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed."

President Trump expressed gratitude for Machado's gesture, writing on Truth Social that she "presented me with her Nobel peace prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect."

Norwegian politicians criticized Machado's action. Kirsti Bergstø, leader of Norway’s Socialist Left party, described the gesture as "absurd," emphasizing that "the peace prize cannot be given away."

The Nobel Foundation reiterated that while the physical medal can change hands, the title of Nobel laureate remains with the original recipient.