The Nobel Foundation has said that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred or passed on, even symbolically, after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina
Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House. In a statement, the Nobel Foundation said one of its core missions is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. It said Alfred Nobel’s will clearly states that the prizes are awarded to those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” and that a prize cannot be handed over or redistributed under any circumstances. "The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel’s will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind," and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize. A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed," the Nobel Foundation said in a post on X.
Machado met Trump on Thursday in Washington, days after the United States carried out a military strike in Venezuela and captured its leader Nicolás Maduro. Trump later described the gesture as “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect,” saying Machado had presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
Photographs shared on social media showed Trump holding a framed Nobel Peace Prize medal bearing Machado’s name. A message accompanying the medal thanked Trump for what it described as his leadership in promoting peace and defending liberty, calling the presentation a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people.
Machado told reporters after the meeting that she had presented the medal to Trump as recognition of what she called his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom.
The move drew attention because Nobel rules prohibit any transfer of the prize itself. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, quoted by the Nobel Peace Centre, has said that once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred. While a physical medal may change hands, the title of Nobel laureate remains with the original recipient.
Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, arguing that he helped end multiple conflicts during his second term. He has often contrasted himself with former President Barack Obama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, saying Obama did not deserve the honour.
Earlier, Nobel Peace Centre, the museum about the Nobel Peace Prize, in a post on X, quoted the Norwegian Nobel Committee as saying that the Nobel prize cannot be transferred to others.
“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 has said. Noting that “one truth remains”, the Nobel Peace Centre added that “a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.”
