The Norwegian Nobel Institute issued a definitive statement clarifying the terms surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado publicly expressed a desire to share her prize with former President Donald Trump. The statement, released on Friday, firmly emphasized that Nobel Prize regulations preclude any revocation, sharing, or transfer of the award once it has been conferred. According to the institute, "The decision is final and stands for all time," indicating no room for alteration post-announcement.
This clarification was prompted by Machado's comments earlier in the week during her appearance on the Fox News program "Hannity". Machado articulated that the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received for her efforts in Venezuela, was effectively an acknowledgment for the Venezuelan people collectively. She expressed a personal wish to communicate directly to Trump that this recognition was meant to be shared with him, highlighting the role she perceived the former president had played in U.S. actions regarding Venezuela.
"I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people, want to give it to him and share it with him," Machado remarked during the interview.
Responding to these statements on the same Fox News platform days later, Donald Trump described the prospect as a "great honor." Furthermore, he anticipated meeting Machado during an upcoming visit to Washington, signaling a willingness to engage directly with the Venezuelan opposition leader.
Machado has a significant political background in Venezuela, having served as a National Assembly member. In 2023, she won the opposition primary but was prevented from running against incumbent President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s re-election was subject to widespread criticism from independent observers for lacking fairness and transparency.
Interest in Machado's political strategy has been reignited recently, particularly following a U.S. military operation in Venezuela earlier this month. Machado had earlier presented a comprehensive economic strategy valued at approximately $1.7 trillion, aimed at privatizing state-owned assets and revitalizing the Venezuelan economy, which has suffered profound collapse. This plan, introduced in October 2025, attributes the country's economic failures to prolonged socialist governance, mismanagement, and corruption. It advocates for privatization measures, transparency enhancements, and investment incentives as keys to economic recovery.
The discussion about U.S. policy and opposition strategy includes critiques from figures such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who cautioned that the removal of Maduro without fully dismantling the entrenched regime and ensuring support for opposition institutions could risk legitimizing the current government structures in Venezuela.
Last year, the White House publicly criticized the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to Machado instead of Trump. Despite this, Trump himself offered congratulations to Machado, who reciprocated by thanking him for his supportive stance on Venezuela’s democratic cause.