The Norwegian Nobel Institute has issued a firm response after this year's Peace Prize laureate, Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, stated her intention to give or share the award with former US President Donald Trump. The committee has clarified that a Nobel Prize, once awarded, is final and cannot be revoked, transferred, or shared.
The Committee's Final Decision
Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, emphasised the permanence of the award. He stated the decision 'stands for all time'. The committee honoured Machado on January 11, 2026 for her two-decade-long struggle to promote democratic rights in Venezuela. 'She had stood up for free and fair elections for the last 20 years,' Frydnes said, highlighting her work for the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
Machado, who was blocked from standing as the opposition's candidate in the 2024 election, expressed a profound desire to pass the honour to Trump following his role in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. 'I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe... this is a prize of the Venezuelan people... certainly want to give it to him and share it with Trump,' she said. 'What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition.'
Trump's Response and Political Fallout
Donald Trump described Machado as a 'very nice woman' but questioned her capacity to govern, suggesting she lacked sufficient backing. His subsequent decision to install Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela's interim president, rather than Machado, has led to speculation about his motivations. Some observers suggest the move may be linked to his inability to formally accept the Nobel honour.
The unfolding situation places a sharp focus on the future of Venezuela, a nation sitting atop the world's largest proven oil reserves, estimated at more than 300 billion barrels. Trump has outlined a vision for the country's recovery, centred on its vast natural resources. 'We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies… go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,' he stated. 'We’ll be selling large amounts of oil.' Nearly a million barrels a day were already flowing to China, southern Europe, and the US last month.
US Policy and Venezuela's Future
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided insight into the American strategy, telling NBC that the US would be 'running policy' in Venezuela. He clarified the goal was to see changes 'beneficial to the United States, first and foremost, because that’s who we work for, but also we believe beneficial for the people of Venezuela who have suffered tremendously.'
The Nobel Committee's statement effectively closes the door on the symbolic transfer of the peace prize, leaving the accolade firmly with Maria Corina Machado. However, the diplomatic and political ramifications of the episode continue to unfold, highlighting the complex interplay between international recognition, geopolitical power plays, and the struggle for Venezuela's democratic future.
