The Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Norwegian Nobel Committee have issued a firm clarification stating that once a Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to another individual. The statement, released on January 9–10, 2026, directly addresses recent remarks by 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, the prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, who suggested she might present or share her award with U.S. President Donald Trump as a gesture of gratitude for American actions in Venezuela.
In the official release, the institute emphasized the permanence of the award, citing the statutes of the Nobel Foundation. "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 statement declared. It further noted that neither Alfred Nobel's will nor the foundation's statutes provide any mechanism for revocation or transfer, and no appeals are permitted against the decisions of the prize-awarding bodies.
The clarification follows Machado's appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" program earlier in the week, where host Sean Hannity asked if she had offered to give her prize to Trump. Machado responded, "Well, it hasn’t happened yet," but elaborated that the Venezuelan people "certainly want to give it to him and share it with him." She described Trump's role in recent events—specifically the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026—as "historic" and a major step toward democratic transition in her country.
Trump, who has long expressed interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and has previously linked it to his foreign policy achievements, appeared on the same program and stated it would be a "great honor" to accept such a gesture. He confirmed plans to meet Machado in Washington the following week, adding to speculation about their discussions.
Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025 "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 Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times." Due to ongoing risks in Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year following the disputed 2024 elections, her daughter accepted the prize on her behalf during the ceremony in Oslo.
Machado's political journey has been marked by significant challenges. A former member of Venezuela's National Assembly, she won the opposition primary in 2023 but was barred by the Maduro-controlled authorities from contesting the 2024 presidential election. She endorsed a stand-in candidate, Edmundo González, who was widely believed by independent observers to have won amid reports of widespread irregularities and fraud in the official results declared in Maduro's favor. In the ensuing crackdown on opposition figures and protesters, Machado went underground before eventually resurfacing in Norway.
The context for her comments on Trump stems from the dramatic U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, which captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. U.S. forces transported them to New York, where they face long-standing charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offenses. The raid, described by Trump as a "large-scale strike," has drawn international criticism for its legality under international law, with experts arguing it violates sovereignty norms despite the U.S. indictments. Maduro pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court, and the case continues amid questions about Venezuela's future governance.
Following Maduro's removal, Delcy Rodríguez, his longtime ally and vice president, was sworn in as acting president. Washington has signaled support for Rodríguez while maintaining that the U.S. will play a significant role in overseeing Venezuela's transition "for the foreseeable future." Trump has publicly questioned Machado's ability to lead, citing intelligence assessments suggesting she lacks sufficient support or respect to govern effectively—a stance that contrasts with her public gratitude toward him.
The Nobel Institute's statement underscores a key principle: the prize is personal and irrevocable, awarded solely to the designated laureate(s). While recipients may symbolically dedicate or express thanks for the honor—as Machado did initially to Trump and the Venezuelan people—the medal, diploma, and monetary award remain with the official recipient. The institute typically refrains from commenting on post-award actions by laureates, but the unusual nature of the transfer suggestion prompted this rare intervention to set the record straight.
The episode highlights the intersection of global recognition for democratic activism, U.S. foreign policy interventions, and the enduring rules of one of the world's most prestigious awards. As Machado plans her return to Venezuela "as soon as possible" and prepares for potential meetings with Trump, the Nobel clarification ensures the 2025 prize remains firmly hers, symbolizing her individual courage amid Venezuela's turbulent path toward democracy.
