The Nobel Peace Center has spoken out after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado publicly handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump, following his repeated claims that he deserved the honor.

Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025 for her work defending democratic rights in Venezuela. Earlier this month, she met with Trump at the White House, where she praised him for actions she said helped defeat authoritarian rule in her country. During the meeting, she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, explaining that she believed his commitment to freedom made him worthy of it.

Photos were taken of Trump holding the medal in the Oval Office, and afterward, Machado confirmed that she had formally given him the prize as a symbolic gesture of respect. Trump later described the moment as a great honor and thanked Machado publicly, calling her courageous and praising her dedication.

In response, the Nobel Peace Center clarified an important distinction: while the physical medal itself can be passed from one person to another, the official status of being a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot. The Center emphasized that once the Nobel Committee announces a winner, that decision is permanent and cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred—regardless of who possesses the medal.

The Center also noted that this situation is not unprecedented.

In the past, some Nobel Peace Prize medals have changed hands for symbolic or charitable reasons, but the title of laureate always remains with the original recipient.

Machado has previously said she “dedicated” her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, arguing that his actions marked a historic turning point for justice, freedom, and human dignity—not just for Venezuela, but globally.

Despite the symbolic exchange, the Nobel Committee reaffirmed that the Nobel Peace Prize remains legally and officially tied to the person who was originally awarded it, for all time.