‘Prize Cannot Be Transferred’: Nobel Committee Clarifies After Machado Gives Medal to Trump

Washington: Norway's Nobel Committee had made it clear on Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize remains registered only in the name of the person to whom the honor is officially given, even if the award medal is handed over to someone else. This statement came after the incident when Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during her meeting at the White House.

What did the Nobel Committee clarify?

In its statement issued from Oslo, the committee said that the winner can give the medal, certificate, and prize money to anyone, donate it, or even sell it. But this does not change the fact that the person who was given this honor will be considered the recipient of the award in history. According to the committee, “The right to the honor remains with the original winner.”

Does the winner change if the medal is in someone else's possession?

The Nobel Committee said bluntly that this does not happen at all. Even if the medal or diploma goes to someone else, the name of the award recipient is not changed in the records. The committee also added that it does not comment on the political activities of any Peace Prize winner.

Why did Machado give the medal to Trump?

Maria Machado recently claimed that she had handed over her Nobel Medal to Trump as a mark of respect. The move came at a time when Machado was politically sidelined by the Trump administration following the ouster of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He described this as a symbol of mutual respect.

What was Trump's reaction?

Donald Trump confirmed on his social media platform 'Truth Social' that he had accepted the medal. Describing Machado as a courageous woman, he wrote that it is a matter of honor for him. However, soon after this the Nobel Committee reiterated that the prize can neither be shared nor transferred to anyone else's name.

Has this happened before?

The Nobel organization also said that before this, many winners have sold or donated their medals. But even in these cases the official status of the award never changed.

Why did Machado receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

Maria Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle for democratic rights in Venezuela and her efforts for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. He had fled the country by boat last month and reached Oslo to receive the award and at the same time had talked about dedicating it to Trump.