María Corina Machado, the actual 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate (awarded for her work promoting democratic rights and a peaceful transition in Venezuela), stated that she "presented" her physical Nobel medal to President Trump during their White House meeting on January 15, 2026. She described this as a symbolic gesture recognizing his "unique commitment" to Venezuelan freedom, and she had previously dedicated the award to him (along with the Venezuelan people) when accepting it.
However, the Nobel Peace Prize—the official honor, recognition, and status as laureate—remains solely hers. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explicitly clarified on January 10, 2026 (and has reiterated in rules), that a Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others. Once awarded, the decision is final and permanent.
- The physical medal is a separate object that the recipient owns and can give away, lend, or dispose of as they wish (similar to how someone might gift a trophy or personal item).
- But handing over the medal does not transfer the prize, the title of laureate, the diploma, or any official status.
- It's unclear from reports whether Trump physically accepted or kept the medal, as Machado did not directly answer questions on that point.
This act appears to have been a deliberate political and symbolic move by Machado—possibly to flatter Trump, seek his support amid Venezuela's post-Maduro transition (where Trump has backed elements of the prior regime instead of her leadership), or draw historical parallels (she referenced a medal given to Simón Bolívar in the 19th century). It also ties into Trump's long-standing public desire for the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has claimed he deserved for various foreign policy achievements.
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