Trump says he accepted Nobel Peace Prize medal because ‘she offered it to me’ after Machado gift at White House

• What happened: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on 15 January 2026. Trump accepted the medal, saying she offered it to him and praised his record.
• Why it matters now: The move sparked global debate because the Nobel Prize itself cannot be transferred, even if a winner gives away the physical medal.
• What changes for people: The symbolic handover raises questions about political gestures tied to international awards but does not change the official record of who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Who is affected: This involves Trump, Machado, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and international audiences following geopolitical developments in Venezuela and U.S.–Latin America relations.

In a high-profile White House meeting, President Trump accepted the Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, describing the gesture as “very nice” and saying she told him he had “ended eight wars,” though the Nobel Committee’s rules make clear the prize and its official status remain with Machado.

Trump posted on social media that the gift was a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect” and referred to Machado as a “very fine woman.” When pressed by reporters about why he wanted a prize he did not win, he said simply “she offered it to me.”

What the Nobel Committee Says

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has reiterated that a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be shared, transferred, or revoked once awarded. While recipients can personally give away their medal, the official laureate title is permanent and non-transferable.

Officials emphasized that even if another person holds the physical medal, the historical record will continue to show Machado as the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Context and Reactions

Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democratic rights and opposition to Venezuela’s former government. Her decision to give Trump the medal came amid shifting U.S. involvement in Venezuelan politics and was interpreted by analysts as an attempt to strengthen ties with the U.S. leadership.

Norwegian politicians and Nobel experts have criticized the move as unusual and potentially diminishing the symbolic value of the prize. Some described the act as “absurd” and a misunderstanding of the award’s purpose.