Nobel Institute Rejects Proposal for Machado to Share Prize with Trump

The Norwegian Nobel Institute has firmly rejected recent suggestions that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado could share her Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The clarification came on Friday, following Machado’s comments earlier this week that hinted at the possibility of transferring the award to Trump.

In a statement, the Nobel Institute emphasized that “once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others.” This assertion underscores the longstanding policy governing the prestigious award, asserting that the decision is final and unchangeable.

The topic arose during an appearance by Machado on Fox News’ “Hannity.” When host Sean Hannity inquired whether she had offered to give Trump the Peace Prize, Machado responded, “Well, it hasn’t happened yet.” She further expressed the sentiment of the Venezuelan people, stating, “This is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him.” She praised Trump’s actions as “historic” and indicative of a significant step toward a democratic transition in Venezuela.

On January 3, 2024, Trump announced the successful completion of an operation aimed at capturing authoritarian Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in New York. When asked if he would accept the Nobel Prize from Machado during his own appearance on “Hannity,” Trump replied, “I’ve heard that she wants to do that. That would be a great honor.”

Machado recently escaped Venezuela and traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump. She stated, “As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to President Trump because I believed at that point that he deserved it.” She expressed that many considered Trump’s military operation against Maduro impossible to achieve.

Despite the accolades from Machado, Trump has previously stated that she lacks the support and respect necessary to lead within her country. The former president has shown support for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a former vice president under Maduro and a long-standing loyalist.

As the political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve, Trump has indicated plans to meet with Machado in Washington next week. The interactions between these two political figures highlight the ongoing complexities of Venezuelan politics and the international community’s engagement with the crisis.