Machado Hands Nobel Medal to Trump, Sparks Debate on Whether Prize Can Be Cancelled

A fresh global controversy has erupted around the Nobel Peace Prize after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado handed over her Nobel medal to Donald Trump, triggering intense criticism and renewed questions about whether the Nobel Foundation can revoke or transfer an already awarded prize.

Machado, who received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in promoting democratic resistance against Venezuela’s authoritarian rule, presented the gold medal to Trump during a recent visit to the White House. The symbolic gesture immediately sparked backlash across political and diplomatic circles, with critics accusing her of politicising one of the world’s most prestigious honours.

The move came shortly after dramatic political developments in Venezuela, where former leader Nicolás Maduro was captured in a high-profile operation, leading to a change in leadership. Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, was subsequently installed as interim president amid continued instability. Against this backdrop, Machado’s decision was seen by many as an attempt to align herself with Washington at a critical political moment.

Trump, who has long expressed frustration over never receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, accepted the medal and praised Machado’s gesture. However, he stopped short of offering any explicit political backing for her ambitions in a post-Maduro Venezuela. His acceptance further fuelled debate over the legitimacy and symbolism of the act.

Amid the controversy, the Nobel Foundation and the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued clear clarifications. They stated that while Machado is free to give away the physical medal, the Nobel Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked under any circumstances. According to the Foundation, neither its statutes nor the provisions laid down by Alfred Nobel allow for the cancellation of a prize once awarded.

The Nobel institutions emphasised that the committee’s mandate ends at the moment the prize is awarded. Any actions or statements made by laureates afterward fall outside its authority. Regardless of what happens to the medal, diploma, or prize money—amounting to 11 million Swedish crowns—the historical record will always list Machado as the sole recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

The controversy has also sparked sharp reactions in Norway, where the Peace Prize holds deep national significance. Several Norwegian political leaders condemned Machado’s decision, calling it disrespectful and damaging to the credibility of the award. Critics argued that the gesture undermines the moral authority of the prize and risks reducing it to a political bargaining chip.

Academics and former officials echoed these concerns, warning that such actions could erode public trust in the Nobel institution. Some described the move as embarrassing and harmful, particularly given Trump’s controversial foreign policy positions and rhetoric on global security issues.

Despite the outrage, the Nobel Foundation has remained firm in its stance. It reiterated that laureates have complete autonomy over the physical symbols of the award but stressed that ownership of the medal does not equate to ownership of the prize itself. As debate continues worldwide, the episode has reignited discussions about the limits of symbolism, political intent, and the enduring legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize.