The White House is firing back at the Nobel Foundation after the organization emphasized that Nobel Prizes can’t be transferred or shared—following a high-profile moment involving President Donald Trump and Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado.
On Thursday, Machado said she offered Trump the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 2025, and Trump accepted the gesture. The Nobel Foundation later responded with a statement stressing that its role includes protecting the integrity of the awards and clarifying that a prize “can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed.”
That prompted sharp criticism from administration officials.
Anna Kelly, White House deputy secretary wrote on X: “This is some pretentious nonsense,” adding that the foundation’s response showed it wanted “to criticize instead of recognize his incredible efforts towards PEACE.”
White House director of communications Steven Cheung also accused the Nobel Foundation of “trying to play politics,” saying “they should highlight the President’s unprecedented accomplishments.”
Why It Matters
Trump has long sought the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to individuals or groups recognized for advancing peace and cooperation between nations. Only four U.S. presidents have received the honor. President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, eight months into his presidency.
What To Know
The Trump administration has argued that the president deserved the prize for his role in ending multiple conflicts.
Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025, with the committee citing her fight for democracy against President Nicolas Maduro. She visited the White House last week, where she offered Trump the medal tied to her award.
“I presented the president of the United States the medal…the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters.
Some analysts say her move may have been aimed at securing stronger backing from Trump as Venezuela’s political future remains unsettled. Earlier this month, Maduro was removed in a military operation by the Trump administration, and questions remain about who will lead Venezuela long-term.
While Machado won a primary to face Maduro in 2023, Trump has said he does not believe she has broad support inside Venezuela. That has left uncertainty over what leadership will look like in the post-Maduro period.
Speaking to Newsweek, Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K., said: “Machado passed on her medal as a lever to gain support from Trump in her quest to form Venezuela’s next government. He may have gained the bauble, but not the actual prize.”
The Nobel Foundation said in a press statement: “Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else’s possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”
It added: “A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced. A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social last week: “It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!”
The White House in a post on X last week: “President Donald J. Trump meets with María Corina Machado of Venezuela in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor.”
The Nobel Foundation wrote on X: “One of the core missions of the Nobel Foundation is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel’s will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who ‘have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind,’ and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize. A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed.”
Anna Kelly, White House deputy secretary wrote on X: “This is some pretentious nonsense. President Trump has saved countless lives by ending eight wars around the world. That certainly constitutes a ‘benefit to humankind.’ But these elites want to criticize instead of recognize his incredible efforts towards PEACE. Ridiculous.”
White House director of communications Steven Cheung wrote on X: “The @NobelPrize has now issued multiple statements/comments on President Trump (who rightfully deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace to at least eight wars). Instead of trying to play politics, they should highlight the President’s unprecedented accomplishments.”
What Happens Next
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez remains in power in Venezuela. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are to stand trial for drugs and weapons charges in New York City.
