The debate over the Nobel Peace Prize took an unexpected turn this week after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado suggested she would like to share her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize with U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting a swift and unequivocal response from the Norwegian Nobel Institute. The Institute, which oversees the prestigious award, made it clear on Friday, January 9, 2026, that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred once it has been announced. "The decision is final and stands for all time," the Institute stated, shutting down speculation that the prize could be handed over or split with another recipient.
Machado’s comments came in the wake of dramatic political developments in Venezuela. On January 3, 2026, a U.S. military operation led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who now face narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges in New York. The operation marked a turning point in Venezuela’s protracted crisis and was widely covered by international media, including Sky News and CBS News. Many Venezuelans, weary from years of political turmoil, saw the move as a significant step toward democratic transition.
In an interview on Fox News’s “Hannity” earlier in the week, Machado expressed her gratitude to Trump for his role in supporting the operation. "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 — certainly want to, to give it to him and share it with him," Machado said. She described the U.S. intervention as "historic," adding, "It’s a huge step towards a democratic transition." Machado had already dedicated the prize to Trump and the people of Venezuela shortly after the award was announced in October 2025.
Her remarks sparked immediate interest, particularly given Trump’s well-known desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. The U.S. president has openly campaigned for the honor since returning to office. When asked about Machado’s comments during his own appearance on "Hannity," Trump responded enthusiastically. "I’ve heard that she wants to do that, that would be a great honor," he said. He also revealed that Machado is expected to visit Washington in the week of January 12, 2026, and said, "I look forward to saying hello to her. That would be a great honor."
Despite the mutual admiration, the Nobel Institute’s rules are clear. Its Friday statement, reported by several outlets including Sky News and The Washington Post, left no room for ambiguity: once a Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, it cannot be revoked, transferred, or shared. This policy, the Institute emphasized, is "clear and well established." A representative for Machado did not immediately respond to requests for further comment following the Institute’s clarification.
Machado’s political journey has been marked by both courage and adversity. She won Venezuela’s opposition primary in 2023 but was barred from running against Maduro in the general election. Instead, she supported another candidate, Edmundo González, whom the U.S. and other international actors recognized as the legitimate winner of the 2024 election. As Maduro’s crackdown on protesters and opposition figures intensified, Machado went into hiding for over a year. She reemerged in public last month in Norway, where her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. In awarding her the prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Machado as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times" and commended her "tireless" efforts in promoting democracy.
The capture of Maduro and his subsequent extradition to face charges in New York have further complicated Venezuela’s already tangled political scene. While many in the opposition celebrated the development, the question of who should lead the country next remains contentious. Trump, for his part, has expressed skepticism about Machado’s ability to rally enough support within Venezuela to govern. "She’s a very nice woman," Trump said on January 8, 2026, "but she doesn’t currently have the support within Venezuela to govern." Instead, the U.S. has thrown its weight behind Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, as acting president. This decision has drawn mixed reactions among Venezuelans and international observers, with some seeing it as a pragmatic move to ensure stability and others questioning the legitimacy of Rodríguez’s leadership.
Machado, however, has not shied away from asserting her own claim to leadership. In a separate interview with CBS’s Tony Dokoupil, she responded "Absolutely yes" when asked if she should be Venezuela’s next leader. She emphasized that her coalition has a president-elect in Edmundo González and added, "We are ready and willing to serve our people, as we have been mandated." Machado has also indicated her intention to return to Venezuela "as soon as possible," signaling her continued commitment to the country’s democratic transition.
The unusual episode surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize has highlighted not only the complexities of Venezuela’s political crisis but also the symbolic power of international recognition. For Machado, the prize was both a personal honor and a tribute to the resilience of the Venezuelan people. Her willingness to share it with Trump, while ultimately not permitted by Nobel rules, was intended as a gesture of gratitude for what she described as a "historic" intervention. For Trump, the episode offered another opportunity to seek the international acclaim he has long pursued.
As the dust settles, the Nobel Institute’s firm stance serves as a reminder of the strict protocols that underpin one of the world’s most prestigious awards. The rules may be immutable, but the political drama surrounding this year’s Peace Prize shows no sign of abating. With Machado’s planned visit to Washington and the ongoing uncertainty about Venezuela’s future leadership, the story is far from over. For now, the Nobel Peace Prize remains with Machado, but its significance—and the debate over who deserves credit for Venezuela’s democratic progress—continues to reverberate on the world stage.
It’s a moment that underscores both the limits of symbolic gestures and the enduring hope for real change in Venezuela.
