The Nobel Prize organization has clarified that the award cannot be withdrawn or transferred to another person, following comments from Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado. Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, had suggested that she wanted to give her award to US President Donald Trump. However, the Nobel Prize office has stated that the award “can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others” and that the decision to award the prize is final.
Machado had told Fox News that the Venezuelan people wanted to share the award with Trump, who has been actively campaigning for the prize since taking office. Despite this, the Nobel Committee opted to present the award to Machado during a ceremony in Oslo, Norway in December. The Committee’s statement did not directly mention Trump or Machado, but emphasized that the award’s status is permanent and cannot be changed.
The development comes as Trump has been seeking to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and has been involved in efforts to intervene in Venezuela. Machado has backed the US intervention in the country and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolas Maduro, in early January. However, Trump has since dismissed her as a potential new head of the country, stating that she lacks support and respect within Venezuela.
The Nobel Prize organization’s statement has put to rest any speculation about the possibility of the award being transferred to Trump. The organization’s rules are clear, and the decision to award the prize to Machado is final. The development is significant, as it highlights the independence and integrity of the Nobel Prize Committee’s decision-making process.
The US president is set to meet with Machado next week, during her visit to Washington. Trump has said that he looks forward to meeting her, and has described the potential transfer of the Nobel Prize as “a great honor.” However, the Nobel Prize organization’s statement has made it clear that this will not be possible. The development is a reminder of the prestige and permanence of the Nobel Prize, and the importance of respecting the decisions of the Nobel Committee.
