Nobel Committee Rules Nobel Peace Prize Cannot Be Transferred After Machado’s Comments
The Nobel Peace Prize committee has for the first time issued a public statement clarifying that the Peace Prize cannot be transferred or reassigned, after Venezuelan laureate María Corina Machado suggested she might give or share her award with U.S. President Donald Trump. The rare clarification matters now because speculation has spread widely online and in interviews.
The public remark by Machado raised questions about whether a prize could move from one laureate to another, a concept that Nobel officials say is not grounded in the foundation’s rules. Responding Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Committee underscored that once a Nobel Peace Prize is announced, the decision is final.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado for her work promoting democratic rights in Venezuela. In a recent interview she hinted she would honor Trump for his role in capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — and said she might share or dedicate her prize to him. Trump’s willingness to accept that gesture added fuel to social media conversation.
Despite pressure and online theories about potential prize transfer, the Nobel Committee’s statutes leave no room for reassignment after award. Nobel officials stressed that prize titles cannot be revoked, shared or reallocated once decided.
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“The facts are clear and well established,” a Nobel Institute spokesperson said, reinforcing the permanence of their decision.
That matters because Nobel laureates often attract global attention, and any suggestion that a prize could shift hands raises questions about the award’s integrity and legal standing.
The clarification closes off a prominent online theory at least in official terms and affirms Nobel protocol.
What happens now?
Observers now expect further commentary from Machado’s office and political figures about the implications of her earlier remarks.
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