What Happened
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of human rights and democracy in Venezuela, particularly her efforts against the Maduro regime.
During a White House meeting in January 2026, Machado presented the physical Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for what she sees as his role in supporting Venezuelan freedom. Trump accepted the medal, thanked Machado, and called it a “great honor.”
What the Nobel Committee Says
Despite Trump receiving the medal physically, the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized that the official title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be transferred, shared, or reassigned. The medal itself can be gifted as an object, but the recognition and honor of being a laureate remain permanently with the original winner — Machado in this case.
This is a strict rule meant to preserve the integrity and permanence of the award.
Why It Became Controversial
Trump has previously expressed a desire to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his foreign policy, including claims that he ended wars, which critics view as exaggerated.
Machado’s gesture was symbolic, not official, but it brought the Peace Prize into the spotlight as a political tool rather than purely an honor for humanitarian achievements.
Many international commentators criticized the move as undermining the prestige of the award, noting the distinction between the physical medal and the official laureate status.
Public and Political Reaction
Supporters saw it as a meaningful acknowledgment of Trump’s impact on Venezuelan affairs.
Critics argued it distracted from the Peace Prize’s actual purpose and that using it politically could damage its credibility.
Some observers also suggested Machado’s actions might serve her political goals within Venezuela.
The Bottom Line
Trump physically received Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize medal, but this does not make him an official laureate.
The title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be transferred under the Nobel Committee’s rules.
The incident highlights the tension between political symbolism and the institutional rules governing one of the world’s most prestigious honors.