The Norwegian Nobel Institute has categorically rejected the notion that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado could share her Nobel Peace Prize with former President Donald Trump. This announcement came on Friday after Machado suggested earlier in the week that she might transfer the prestigious award to Trump during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
“Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others,” the Nobel Institute stated. “The decision is final and stands for all time.” This clarification underscores the strict regulations governing the Nobel Peace Prize and the significance of its award.
During her Tuesday interview, Machado expressed her admiration for Trump and linked his actions to the potential for democratic transition in Venezuela. When asked by host Sean Hannity if she had offered to give Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado stated, “Well, it hasn’t happened yet.” She elaborated, “I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him. What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition.”
The backdrop to this discussion is significant. On January 3, 2024, Trump announced that U.S. forces had successfully conducted an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York. When asked whether he would accept the Nobel Prize from Machado, Trump responded, “I’ve heard that she wants to do that. That would be a great honor.”
Machado, who recently managed to escape from Venezuela, traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump. “Let me be very clear. As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to President Trump because I believed at that point that he deserved it,” she expressed on “Hannity.”
Trump has indicated plans to meet with Machado in Washington next week. Despite this, he has previously remarked that she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country” to lead. This statement highlights the complexities of Venezuelan politics, especially as Trump has shown support for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a loyalist to Maduro who served as vice president under him.
The interaction between Machado and Trump has generated significant interest, reflecting the ongoing turmoil in Venezuela and the international community’s response to it. The Nobel Institute’s firm stance on the integrity of its awards reinforces the distinction between political gestures and the established protocols of international recognition.
