Nobel Peace Prize officials issue firm response after last year's winner hands prize to Trump

Nobel Peace Prize officials appear to have issued a response after last year's winner, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, passed the prestigious accolade on to Donald Trump.

News broke over Machado's decision yesterday (15 January), just months after the political prize was bestowed upon her.

She'd been nominated back in August 2024 for her 'tireless fight for peace in Venezuela and the world', as 'a fair recognition of a person who has dedicated almost her entire life to the fight for peace and the liberation' of the South American country.

US President Trump had expressed a strong desire for the same achievement, believing his diplomatic deals - including alleged efforts around the Gaza ceasefire, and communications between Russia and Ukraine - were concrete peace achievements.

Why did Machado receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

The prize was to be awarded to 58-year-old Machado back in October, however, given the popularity she amassed in the face of an authoritarian dictatorship by Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.

Organisers praised 'her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy'.

When accepting the award on social media at the time, however, Machado gave a somewhat unexpected shout-out to 79-year-old Trump, 'for his decisive support of our cause'.

Earlier this month, the Republican leader captured and removed Maduro from Venezuela, detaining him at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on charges of 'narco-terrorism' - something he has pleaded not guilty to.

Despite the latter move sparking global backlash from many other world leaders, it seemingly prompted Machado to gift Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal this week, which he told Fox News days beforehand would be a 'great honour'.

Why did she give it to Trump?

On Thursday, a snap was shared by White House officials, showing Machado posing with the framed award alongside the right-wing leader.

"To President Donald J. Trump," an accompanying letter stated. "In Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength, Advancing Diplomacy, and Defending Liberty and Prosperity.

"The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Medal awarded to María Corina Machado."

"I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado later told press, adding it was 'a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom'.

How did Nobel Peace Prize officials respond?

Seemingly in response to the news, officials from the Nobel Peace Center took to social media to share a statement emphasising that the award 'can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others'.

Sharing an image of the prize, the official account of the museum about the Nobel Peace Prize wrote: "The #NobelPeacePrize medal. It measures 6.6 cm in diameter, weighs 196 grams and is struck in gold. On its face, a portrait of Alfred Nobel and on its reverse, three naked men holding around each other’s shoulders as a sign of brotherhood.

"A design unchanged for 120 years."

It continued: "Did you know that some Nobel Peace Prize medals have been passed on after the award was given? A well‑known case is Dmitry Muratov’s medal, which was auctioned for over USD 100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine.

"And the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center is actually on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway’s first Peace Prize laureate."

The Nobel Peace Center then went on to emphasise: "But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: 'Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time'.

"A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot."

It comes after the Nobel Committee emphasised that the prize was not transferable in a statement on 9 January, saying: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive a number of requests for comments regarding the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status.

How did Trump respond?

Responding to the gift, Trump took to Truth Social, where he wrote: "It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today.

"She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!"