Nobel Peace Center issues rare response after Venezuelan opposition leader gives her Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump

The Nobel Peace Center appears to have responded after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump.

Machado was presented with the Peace Prize in October 2025 after Trump stated on multiple occasions that he felt he himself 'deserved' the award.

The Peace Prize winner served as an elected member of the National Assembly of Venezuela from 2011 to 2014. Machado was honored for her efforts to promote 'democratic rights for the people of Venezuela'.

The politician met with Trump at the White House on Thursday (January 15), which comes after she praised the POTUS for the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

"January 3 will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny," the Venezuelan told press earlier this month. "It's a milestone, and it's not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it's a huge step for humanity, for freedom, and human dignity."

María Corina Machado won the 2025 Peace Prize (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

During Machado and Trump's meeting, the president posed for a photo with the Nobel Peace Prize medal in the Oval Office.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Machado told Fox News: "I presented the President of the United States the medal, the peace, the Nobel Peace Prize."

She went on to explain that the prize had been handed to Trump due to his 'unique commitment with our freedom'.

However, the Nobel Peace Center seemingly reminded Machado on Thursday that while 'a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot'.

Writing on the official X account of the museum about the Nobel Peace Prize, it said of the medal: "It measures 6.6 cm in diameter, weighs 196 grams and is struck in gold. On its face, a portrait of Alfred Nobel and on its reverse, three naked men holding around each other’s shoulders as a sign of brotherhood. A design unchanged for 120 years.

"Did you know that some Nobel Peace Prize medals have been passed on after the award was given? A well‑known case is Dmitry Muratov’s medal, which was auctioned for over USD 100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine.

"And the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center is actually on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway’s first Peace Prize laureate.

"But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: 'Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time'."

Donald Trump pictured with Machado and the medal in the Oval Office (Daniel Torok/The White House via Getty Images)

It comes after a statement released by the Nobel Committee earlier this month, which explained: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive a number of requests for comments regarding the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status.

"The facts are clear and well established. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time."

Trump took to Truth Social after he met Machado, stating it was a 'great honor'. He added: "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!"

Machado previously spoke to Fox News about 'dedicating' her award to Trump, as she said: "Let me be very clear. As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated [it] to Trump because I knew at that point, he deserved it.

"And lot of people, most people said it was impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, 3 January.

"And so, I believe he deserved it. January 3 will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny. It’s a milestone, and it’s not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it’s a huge step for humanity, for freedom, and human dignity."

UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.