Can’t give Peace Prize to Trump, Nobel Institute tells Machado

Mohan Sinha
14 Jan 2026, 08:51 GMT+10

The Norwegian Nobel Institute has dashed any hope that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado would give her recent award to President Donald Trump
The Institute said in a short statement over the weekend that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it can’t be revoked, transferred, or shared with others
Machado said she would like to give or share the prize with Trump, who led a U.S. operation that captured Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Norwegian Nobel Institute has dashed any hope that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado would give her recent award to President Donald Trump.

The Institute said in a short statement over the weekend that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it can't be revoked, transferred, or shared with others.

"The decision is final and stands for all time," it said.

Machado said she would like to give or share the prize with Trump, who led a U.S. operation that captured Venezuela's authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York.

After the announcement, Machado dedicated the prize to Trump and to the people of Venezuela. Trump has long wanted to win the Nobel Prize and has openly pushed for it since returning to office.

However, when it comes to leading Venezuela after Maduro's capture, Trump has backed someone else: acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro's vice president.

Trump called Machado a "very nice woman" but said she does not currently have enough support inside Venezuela to govern. He told Hannity that Machado plans to visit next week and said a Peace Prize offer would be a "great honor."

A representative for Machado did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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