Donald Trump used the straightforward justification that “she offered it to me” to defend his acceptance of Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize, citing the end of eight conflicts. On Thursday, Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition, gave US President Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which he received. Trump praised the “wonderful woman” in return, calling it a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
Trump responded, “Well, she offered it to me,” when asked why he would desire someone else’s Nobel Prize and what he planned to do with it. It seemed so lovely to me. You have put an end to eight wars, and no one in history deserves this honor more than you do, she remarked. And I found it to be a really kind gesture.
Trump called Machado a “very fine woman” as he concluded.
President Donald Trump said Friday he accepted Venezuelan opposition leader MarÃa Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize medal because "she offered it to me." The president claims to have ended eight wars and said Machado told him that no one deserved the prize more than him. pic.twitter.com/ccutjkJU77
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 16, 2026
Machado’s Remarks
Machado claimed she gave Trump the prize earlier on Thursday “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our (Venezuela) freedom.”
Machado and Trump reportedly addressed Venezuela’s leadership during their private meeting at the White House.Without providing further details, Machado told supporters gathered outside the White House, “We can count on President Trump.” As a result, some of them momentarily chanted, “Thank you, Trump.”
“Nobel Prize And Laureate Are Inseparable”
A day after Machado’s gesture for Trump made news, the Norwegian Nobel Committee reiterated on Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be shared, transferred, or rescinded.A gold medal and a diploma are the two main symbols of the Nobel Peace Prize. Furthermore, the prize money is given out separately. It is and continues to be the original laureate who is documented in history as the award recipient, regardless of what happens to the medal, the certificate, or the prize money. “This does not change who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, even if the medal or diploma later ends up in someone else’s possession,” the award board stated in a statement.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee declined to participate in the current debates and events surrounding the awarding of the medal to a politician. Additionally, the award committee made it clear that there are “no restrictions” on what a laureate can do with the prize money, medal, or certificate.
This implies that a laureate is free to donate, sell, give away, or keep these things.
