Nobel Committee Speaks on María Corina Machado Handing Peace Prize to Trump

The Nobel Committee has addressed the gesture by Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado, who claimed to have given her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump. She had received the award last year.

In a message published on X on Thursday, the institution clarified that while the medal can change owners, the title of laureate cannot be transferred.

In its post, the Committee noted that there have been historical instances where the medal passed to other persons after the prize was awarded, for example, through an auction.

"But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: 'Once a Nobel Prize has been announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and remains forever,'" the Committee clarified. The text concludes with an unequivocal statement: "A medal may change owner, but the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate does not."

The Committee's reminder was disseminated after María Corina Machado declared in Washington that she had given her Nobel Peace Prize medal to the US President. The handover took place during their meeting at the White House on Thursday, where they shared a private lunch, which was also attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and from which the media were excluded.

Subsequently, Donald Trump confirmed the meeting and Machado's gesture. "It was a great honor for me to meet today with María Corina Machado, from Venezuela," the president wrote on Truth Social. "María gave me her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. A wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, María!" he added.

US Aggression and Maduro's Kidnapping

The US launched a massive military aggression on Venezuelan territory on January 3rd.

Caracas described Washington's actions as a "most serious military aggression" and warned that the objective of the attacks "is none other than to seize Venezuela's strategic resources."

The Venezuelan president and the first lady were taken to the United States and are currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Maduro declared himself innocent during his first hearing before the US Justice system, in the Southern District Court of New York, where he was charged with narco-terrorism.

Venezuela's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as the country's acting president on January 5th.

Many countries around the world, including Russia, have called for the release of Maduro and his wife. Moscow condemned the attack and stated that Venezuela must have the right to decide its own destiny without any kind of intervention from abroad.