Politis

Nobel: 'The award always belongs to the original winner', says the Committee after Machado's gift to Trump

Published January 16, 2026, 19:20
Nobel: 'The award always belongs to the original winner', says the Committee after Machado's gift to Trump

The Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a statement regarding the decision of last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado, to donate her medal to Donald Trump. The Committee clarifies that the award remains inextricably linked to the original winner and that the fate of the medal, diploma or monetary prize does not change this. In its statement, the Committee emphasizes that laureates are free to dispose of the items accompanying the award as they wish, whether it is for sale, donation or simple possession. Machado's move sparked discussions about the symbolic value of the award and the political dimension of the donation. Machado herself expressed her confidence in a smooth transition in Venezuela and the holding of free and fair elections, while in her meeting with Trump, she stressed the need for an immediate return to her country.