Nobel Committee Rejects Transfer After Machado Gives Medal To Trump
By ANITA KNIGHT
Nobel Committee Clarifies Peace Prize Rule After Machado Gifts Medal to Trump
THE Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued a firm clarification that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred to another individual — even after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting.
In a statement released on Friday, the committee emphasised that the formal award — and the status of laureate — remains permanently tied to the original winner and cannot be shared, revoked, or reassigned under any circumstances. “A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced. A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked,” the committee said.
Symbolic Gesture Sparks Official Response
Machado, who won the prize last year for her “tireless efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela,” gave her Nobel medal to Mr. Trump on Thursday at the White House. She placed the 18-karat gold medal in a decorative frame inscribed with words of gratitude for what she described as the US president’s “extraordinary leadership in promoting peace through strength.”
President Trump accepted the framed medal and, according to reports, received a personalised maroon bag bearing his signature in exchange. But the Nobel Committee’s statement underscored that the physical possession of the medal does not alter the official record of laureateship.
What the Committee’s Rules Actually Say
Under Nobel Foundation statutes, once a Nobel Prize is officially announced, it “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others.” The decision is final and permanent, according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute — the administrative arm that supports the Nobel Committee’s work.
The statement also clarified that while laureates may choose to give away, sell, or donate their medals, these actions do not affect the formal laureate designation. The Nobel Committee “does not comment on laureates’ subsequent statements or decisions,” but it reiterated that the title remains linked to the original recipient.
Historical Precedents and Contemporary Debate
While the personal possession of Nobel medals has changed hands in past cases — such as when Dmitry Muratov auctioned his medal to fund charity — none of these transfers affected the laureate’s official status.
Machado’s gesture, however, has reignited debate over the symbolic meaning of the Nobel Peace Prize and how political actors use it. Some analysts view the White House photo-op and frame inscription as more political theatre than a substantive reassignment of honour.
Deadline for Clarification
The Nobel Committee’s firm reminder comes amid heightened attention to the unusual episode and underscores the legal and symbolic boundaries of one of the world’s most prestigious awards.
