Nobel Peace Prize rules explained as winner hands over her award to Donald Trump
Questions have been raised regarding the regulations that come with receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, after the most recent winner handed her accolade to Donald Trump this week.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the 2025 prize, after being nominated for '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'.
The 58-year-old had previously amassed mass support in the face of an authoritarian dictatorship by Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro.
When receiving the award back in October, Machado surprised onlookers by giving a special shout-out to US President, 79-year-old Trump, for his 'decisive support of our cause'.
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What are the rules when it comes to receiving a Nobel Peace Prize?
As a reminder, a nomination for this prestigious prize can be submitted for in the case of any person who meets the specific criteria, by 31 January of each year, but you cannot nominate yourself.
These such awards are given for people who have 'conferred the greatest benefit to mankind', and recognised across the realms of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace and economics.
According to the Committee's official website, a nominee must fall under one of the following categories to be considered:
- A member of a national assembly or national government (cabinet members/ministers) of a sovereign states as well as a current head of state.
- A member of The International Court of Justice in The Hague and The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague
- A Member of l’Institut de Droit International
- A members of the International Board of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
- A university professors, professors emeriti or associate professor of history, social sciences, law, philosophy, theology, and religion; a university rector or university director (or their equivalents); a director of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes
- A person who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
- A members of the main board of directors or its equivalent of organisations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
- A current and former member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (proposals by current members of the Committee to be submitted no later than at the first meeting of the Committee after 1 February)
- A former advisers to the Norwegian Nobel Committee
As well as the honour itself, recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize are awarded an 18-carat gold medal, as well as a diploma and a cheque for 11 million Swedish krona ($1.8 million).
As member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee member Asle Toje explained in 2022, however, the award is much more significant that a medal.
"The Nobel Peace Prize is a bit different [to the other prizes] because good deeds, being a good person, doing the right thing, is what we are looking for," he emphasised. "We're not looking for pound-by-pound intelligence."
It is then that the Norwegian Nobel Committee - made up o five members appointed by the Storting (Norwegian parliament) - whittles down the list, until there's only a handful of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Nominees who didn't make the final cut are not to be revealed to the media, or the unsuccessful candidates themselves, until 50 years after that year's ceremony has taken place.
Why did Machado give her prize to Trump?
Republican leader Trump had previously expressed a desire in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize himself, ceaselessly citing alleged efforts around the Gaza ceasefire, and communications between Russia and Ukraine.
In January - two months after Machado received her prize, Trump captured and removed Maduro from Venezuela, detaining him at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on 'narco-terrorism' charges.
In light of this move, Machado this week passed her prize on to the American.
Appearing at the White House on Thursday, the Central American was seen posing with her framed award, alongside right-wing leader, Trump.
An accompanying letter read: "To President Donald J. Trump, in Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength, Advancing Diplomacy, and Defending Liberty and Prosperity."
A side-note also read below: "The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Medal awarded to María Corina Machado."
She also told press the move served as a recognition for Trump's 'unique commitment with our freedom', explaining: "I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize."
Does that mean Trump is the 'real winner'?
In light of this week's controversial news, millions of onlookers have queried whether these accolades can be transferred, and whether Trump should now be constituted as the true 2025 recipient.
Well, it turns out, short answer is, no. He shouldn't.
"Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others," the committee emphasised in a social media statement last week. "The decision is final and stands for all time."
In the group's message, however, it was confirmed that some recipients had made a move similar to Machado in the past.
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. A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot."
Similarly, as explained by the institute director Olav Njølstad, organisers have never considered withdrawing an award, given that: "No appeals may be made against the decision of a prize-awarding body with regard to the award of a prize."
How did Trump respond?
Responding to receiving the Venezuelan prize, Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday, 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!"
Topics: Donald Trump, News, Politics, US News, World News
Rhianna Benson