Trump Accepts Nobel Medal from Venezuelan Opposition Figure
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former US President Donald Trump this week. The symbolic gesture created immediate confusion about Nobel rules and ownership.
Machado presented Trump with the physical medal she received after winning the Nobel Peace Prize last year. Trump publicly praised her during their meeting in Washington, calling her a "wonderful woman." He described the act as one of mutual respect between them.
White House Confirms Trump Will Keep the Medal
The White House later confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal. This development came just days after US military action in Venezuela led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
The timing carried significant political weight. While the US intervention briefly elevated Machado's profile as a leading opposition figure, Trump soon distanced himself from backing her as Venezuela's future leader. He expressed doubts about her domestic support within Venezuela.
Nobel Rules: The Prize Cannot Be Transferred
The Nobel Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred, shared, reassigned or revoked under any circumstances. The status of Nobel laureate is personal and permanent according to established rules.
Machado remains the sole winner of the prize regardless of who physically holds the medal. Trump holding the medal does not make him a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It does not associate him formally with the award in any official capacity.
What the Nobel Peace Center Says
The Nobel Peace Center has directly addressed confusion around Nobel medals and ownership. In explanatory materials, the Center notes that Nobel Peace Prize medals measure 6.6 centimeters in diameter. They weigh 196 grams and are struck in gold.
One side bears a portrait of Alfred Nobel, while the reverse shows three naked men holding each other's shoulders. This design symbolizes brotherhood and has remained unchanged for 120 years.
The Center clarified that Nobel medals have changed hands on several occasions after being awarded. One prominent example involves journalist Dmitry Muratov. He auctioned his medal for more than $100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine.
Another often overlooked detail concerns the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center itself. That medal is on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway's first Peace Prize laureate.
However, the Center underlined a non-negotiable principle set by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred. That decision stands for all time. A medal can change owners, but the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.
What Machado Actually Gave Trump
She gave him the physical medal, not the prize itself. Once awarded, the medal becomes the personal property of the laureate. While the honour and title are non-transferable, the object itself can be gifted, loaned or displayed by someone else.
This distinction explains why Machado's gesture is legally possible but institutionally meaningless. The Nobel Committee recognizes only Machado as the laureate regardless of where her medal travels.
Can the Medal Be Sold?
Yes, at least in principle. Several Nobel Peace Prize medals have been sold at auction over the years, sometimes for extraordinary sums. Prices vary widely depending on the individual and the context.
The most prominent sales usually frame themselves as charitable acts rather than personal profit opportunities. Modern Nobel medals are made from 18-carat recycled gold. This gives them intrinsic material value alongside their symbolic importance.
But selling the medal does not transfer Nobel status. Buyers acquire a historical artefact, not the honour itself. They purchase a piece of history rather than any claim to the prize.
Could Trump Sell This Medal?
That remains unclear. If the medal was gifted without restrictions, Trump could theoretically sell it as personal property. But such a move would almost certainly provoke political and ethical backlash.
Previous high-profile sales were tied to humanitarian causes, not personal enrichment. There is also lingering uncertainty about whether the medal presented to Trump was the original Nobel medal or a symbolic presentation copy. This detail has not been publicly clarified by either party.
Why This Matters Politically
Trump has long expressed frustration at never receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He often argues that his diplomatic efforts were overlooked by the Nobel Committee. Machado's gesture tapped directly into that grievance.
The exchange turned the Nobel into a piece of political theatre at a volatile geopolitical moment. It occurred during heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela following recent military actions.
The Bottom Line
Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize through this exchange. Machado cannot give him the title or the honour regardless of their personal relationship. The medal itself can change hands and even be sold under certain conditions.
None of this alters who the Nobel Committee recognises as the laureate. The institution maintains clear records of all prize recipients throughout history. Trump can be handed the physical Nobel Peace Prize medal by Machado, but in the eyes of the Nobel Committee, Machado remains the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
