Nobel Peace Prize rules explained as Venezuelan opposition leader gives her award to Donald Trump at White House

The Nobel Peace Prize is being talked about more than ever after 2025's winner passed on her award to Donald Trump.

Trump has made it very clear that he believes he deserved the prestigious accolade that was awarded to María Corina Machado last year.

Speaking after losing out to Machado, the president said: "When you put out eight wars, in theory, you should get [a Nobel Peace Prize] for each war.

"It makes me feel so good. Not because of a Nobel Prize, but because I saved millions and millions of lives, and that's what really makes me feel good."

Prior to that, in February 2025, Trump said (via BBC News): "They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. I deserve it, but they will never give it."

But now Trump has somewhat got his way and Machado has presented her award to the POTUS.

On January 15, María Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump (Daniel Torok/The White House via Getty Images)

Why did María Corina Machado give her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump?

Machado met with the president in Washington DC on January 15 and officially gave her Nobel Peace Prize to him.

Speaking to reporters after their meeting, she said: "I presented the president of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize."

Explaining why, the Venezuelan opposition leader said she did it 'as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom', NPR reports.

Meanwhile, on the frame given to Trump it states: "Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump's principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela."

Who can nominate someone for a Nobel Peace Prize?

To receive the Nobel Peace Prize, you must be nominated for it. The nominator must also meet certain criteria outlined by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is responsible for choosing the winner.

Machado was 2025's official Nobel Peace Prize winner (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Per the Nobel Prize website, the Prize is 'considered valid if it is submitted by a person who falls within one of the following categories, a personal application for an award will not be considered':

1. Members of national assemblies and national governments (cabinet members/ministers) of sovereign states, as well as current heads of state
2. Members of The International Court of Justice in The Hague and The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague
3. Members of l’Institut de Droit International
4. Members of the International Board of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
5. University professors, professors emeriti and associate professors of history, social sciences, law, philosophy, theology, and religion; university rectors and university directors (or their equivalents); directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes
6. Persons who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
7. Members of the main board of directors or its equivalent of organizations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
8. Current and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (proposals by current members of the Committee to be submitted no later than at the first meeting of the Committee after 1 February)
9. Former advisers to the Norwegian Nobel Committee

In regards to those eligible for receiving the award itself, their nominator must meet the above criteria.

You cannot nominate yourself.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has made it clear that you cannot transfer the prize (Lars Martin Hunstad/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The process of choosing a winner

There are six steps to someone winning a Nobel Peace Prize. The first is that the Nobel Committee receives a nomination for them from a qualified individual. The deadline for this is January 31.

A shortlist is then prepared in March and by June, there's an advisor review. After this, there's a majority vote and the winner is announced in October.

The Nobel Prize ceremony then takes place sometime between October and December.

Can the Nobel Peace Prize be transferred?

Long story short: no. The Norwegian Nobel Institute said in a recent statement prior to Machado giving her medal to Trump: "Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others."

"The decision is final and stands for all time," it added.

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