The Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued a definitive clarification that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be shared, transferred, or revoked after it is awarded, responding to recent comments by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote democratic transition in Venezuela, publicly expressed a desire to dedicate or give her award to former US President Donald Trump as a gesture of gratitude for actions she says advanced political change in her country.
In an official statement, the Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute reaffirmed that once a Nobel Prize is announced, the decision is final and cannot be altered under any circumstances. While laureates may choose how to use the prize money, the title itself remains exclusively with the declared recipient and cannot be reassigned or revoked. This position is grounded in the Statutes of the Nobel Foundation, which make Nobel decisions permanent and not subject to appeal or transfer.
Machado’s remarks, made during a televised interview, suggested that presenting the award to Trump would symbolize recognition of his role in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump responded that it would be a “great honor” to accept the prize if offered, but the Nobel Committee’s statement closed the possibility.
The committee also noted that it does not comment on the personal actions or statements of laureates after the prize is awarded, emphasising that its mandate is limited to evaluating contributions up to the moment the award is decided. The clarification has ended speculation over the legal status of the Peace Prize and reaffirmed that the Nobel Peace Prize remains one of the world’s most prestigious and immutable international honours.
