The Nobel Committee comments on Machado's gifting of her medal to Trump
The Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a crucial clarification on Friday regarding the rules and traditions governing the prestigious prize, emphasizing that the Nobel Peace Prize remains inextricably and historically linked to its original recipient and cannot be separated from them under any circumstances. This official statement came a day after the controversial move by this year's laureate, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, to present her gold medal to US President Donald Trump.
The committee's position on transfer of ownership
In a statement issued from its headquarters in Oslo, the committee dispelled any doubt, stating: "Regardless of what may happen to the physical medal, the certificate, or even the prize money, only the original winner is recorded in the annals of history as the recipient of the award." The statement further clarified that the winner's identity remains unchanged even if possession of the medal or certificate is subsequently transferred to another person, emphasizing that the symbolic and historical value of the award is inalienable.
Context of the political move
Machado had stated that she had "presented" her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump, a move interpreted by observers as a political attempt to curry favor with the US president, especially after feeling marginalized since the events that led to Washington's ouster of President Nicolás Maduro. The committee, in this context, affirmed its commitment to neutrality and stated that it does not comment "on Peace Prize laureates or the political paths they pursue" after winning the prize.
Historical precedents and freedom of action
Legally and historically, the committee noted the absence of any strict restrictions governing the actions of Nobel laureates regarding their medals, diplomas, and monetary awards. The history of the Nobel Prize includes instances where laureates have sold their medals at public auctions for charitable purposes or donated the proceeds to humanitarian causes—a right guaranteed to the winner—but this did not disqualify them from being officially recognized as "Nobel laureates.".
Background to the award and Trump's ambition
Machado was awarded the prize in recognition of her tireless work in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and her peaceful struggle for the transition from dictatorship to democracy. This comes at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump had previously sought this prestigious award, citing his foreign policy achievements and what he described as ending several wars, making his receipt of the medal as a gift a particularly politically symbolic event.
