The Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued a firm rebuke to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, stating the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to another person. This declaration comes directly after Machado publicly stated her desire to give her newly awarded 2025 prize to former US President Donald Trump.
Machado's Controversial Offer to Trump
María Corina Machado, named the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate in October, told Fox News last week that she wished to "give it to him [Trump] and share it with him" on behalf of the Venezuelan people. She cited the US military action in early January, which involved airstrikes and a raid leading to the seizure of Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro, as a historic step towards democracy.
"What he has done is historic. It's a huge step towards a democratic transition," Machado said. When asked about accepting the honour, Trump, who is scheduled to meet with Machado in Washington this week, responded that "that would be a great honour."
The Nobel Committee's Unprecedented Clarification
In a rare move, both the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute felt compelled to release a statement to clarify the immutable rules governing the award. The statement, issued after Machado's comments, was unequivocal.
"The facts are clear and well established," the statement read. "Once a Nobel prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time."
The organisers pointed to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, which state that "No action may be brought against the decision of the awarding committee in Stockholm or Oslo." They also noted that none of the awarding committees have ever considered withdrawing a Nobel prize.
Background of a Political Snub
Machado's original award in October was widely interpreted as a diplomatic snub to the White House, despite her swift dedication of the prize to President Trump and his "decisive support of our cause." Trump has long expressed a strong desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which is selected by an independent five-person committee in Oslo.
Machado, who escaped Venezuela in December to secretly travel to Oslo for the award ceremony, has been a vocal supporter of Trump's military intervention in her home country. Interestingly, Washington has not backed Machado to lead Venezuela, instead offering support to Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro's former deputy.
The committee concluded its statement by reiterating its standard policy: "In principle, the Norwegian Nobel Committee never comments on what peace prize laureates say or do after they have been awarded the prize." This instance, however, proved to be a notable exception.
