Venezuelan opposition leader **María Corina Machado’s decision to present her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked sharp criticism from Norwegian politicians and Nobel officials, who have described the move as “absurd” and potentially damaging to the prestige of the award.
Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her long struggle for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, flew to Washington earlier this week and met Trump at the White House. During the visit, she handed him the gold Nobel medal as a symbolic gesture of gratitude, citing what she described as his “unique commitment with our freedom” following recent shifts in Venezuela’s political landscape.
Trump publicly accepted the medal and posted on social media that he was grateful for Machado’s gesture, framing it as one of mutual respect.
However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Nobel Peace Center swiftly clarified that while the physical medal can be given away, the official Nobel Peace Prize and its title remain permanently tied to the original laureate. The Nobel Foundation’s statutes do not allow the award to be shared, transferred, or revoked once announced.
The reaction in Norway has been overwhelmingly critical. Prominent politicians, including members of the Socialist Left Party and other parties, called Machado’s action “meaningless,” “embarrassing,” and “damaging” to the Nobel Peace Prize’s integrity. Some also questioned Trump’s suitability for association with the award, citing his controversial political record.
“This is incredibly embarrassing and damaging for one of the world’s most recognized and important awards,” Norwegian Labour Party lawmaker Raymond Johansen wrote on social media, adding that the incident risks politicizing and undermining the peace prize’s global standing.
Critics argue that the dramatic gesture could overshadow Machado’s own achievements and detract from the Nobel Peace Prize’s purpose of celebrating efforts toward peace and democratic progress. Others contend that Machado’s move was aimed at strengthening political ties with Washington amid uncertainty over Venezuela’s future following the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power.
The Nobel Committee has reiterated that Trump’s acceptance of the medal does not make him a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and that the award’s official record remains unchanged.
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