Giving Trump the Nobel Peace Prize Medal Is ‘Absurd’, Say Norwegian Politicians

THE GUARDIAN: US president criticised for accepting medal awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado

Political leaders in Norway have condemned the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s “absurd” decision to present her Nobel peace prize medal to Donald Trump, accusing the US president of being a “classic showoff” who takes credit for other people’s work.

The Nobel laureate gave her medal to Trump at the White House on Thursday “in recognition [of] his unique commitment [to] our freedom”. Several hours later, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Machado “presented me with her Nobel peace prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

The Nobel Peace Center said on social media that “a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel peace prize laureate cannot”. The organisers of the prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute, had already said that the prize “cannot be revoked, shared or transferred” when Machado first revealed her plan – a sentiment reiterated by the institute on Friday. » | Miranda Bryant, Nordic correspondent | Friday, January 16, 2026

Was María Corina Machado the right person to receive the award in the first place? By giving the award away, she has shown clearly that she undervalued the great honour that had been bestowed upon her. As for Trump accepting her medal, it is difficult to imagine more ungracious behaviour by anyone. Moreover, Trump's acceptance of the medal was the height of naffness! — © Mark Alexander

Machado Offered Trump Her Nobel, but Prize Institute Says It’s Not Allowed

THE NEW YORK TIMES: After María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, offered her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said it cannot be “transferred to others.”

Sharing might be caring, but not, apparently, when it comes to the Nobel Peace Prize.

On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified the rules governing the award, writing that the facts were “clear and well established.”

“Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others,” the institute wrote. “The decision is final and stands for all time.”

The statement was released after María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader and the winner of last year’s prize, offered this week to give her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump, who has long coveted the award.

On Monday, Ms. Machado, speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News, said that presenting the prize to Mr. Trump would be an act of gratitude from the Venezuelan people for the removal of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s president who was captured last week by the United States. » | Jonathan Wolfe | Saturday, January 10, 2026

Anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded to one specific person, so cannot be given at will to others. Nobel Peace Prizes are not like Smarties! — © Mark Alexander

Nobel de la paix: María Corina Machado affirme avoir bénéficié d'une aide américaine pour fuir le Venezuela

LE FIGARO : LE POINT DE SITUATION - Après plus d’un an de clandestinité, l’opposante vénézuélienne a quitté Caracas pour rejoindre Oslo, afin d’y recevoir le prix Nobel de la paix.

Arrivée à Oslo, la lauréate du prix Nobel de la Paix a donné jeudi 11 décembre une conférence de presse, initialement prévue en début de semaine. L’opposante politique, qui a passé près d’une année recluse dans sa maison pour échapper au régime Maduro est revenue sur sa fuite du Venezuela, le rôle de Donald Trump, une éventuelle candidature à la présidentielle et son retour possible dans son pays. Le Figaro fait le point. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 11 décembre 2025

Je suis très surpris que les autorités norvégiennes soient prêtes à politiser autant leurs décisions, surtout sur une question aussi controversée. — © Mark Alexander

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Nobel Prize for Venezuelan Dissident Draws Criticism

THE NEW YORK TIMES: María Corina Machado is being honored for her push for democracy even as she backs President Trump’s military buildup and aggressive campaign against Venezuela.

When the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that it would award María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s de facto opposition leader, the peace prize, it lauded her for pursuing a peaceful transition to democracy.

But as Ms. Machado prepares to formally receive the award on Wednesday, the committee has come under criticism over her statements as U.S. warships amass in the Caribbean and the Trump administration readies to make a possible move against Venezuela’s autocratic leader.

Ms. Machado has firmly embraced President Trump’s military buildup and has publicly expressed her support for using force to oust the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.

She has also repeated debunked claims that Mr. Maduro manipulated U.S. elections, fueling accusations that she is amplifying misinformation to gain favor with the Trump administration. » | Genevieve Glatsky and Henrik Pryser Libell | Genevieve Glatsky reported from Bogotá, Colombia, and Henrik Pryser Libell from Oslo. | Tuesday, December 9, 2025

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Venezuelan Dissident Appears in Norway After Missing Nobel Ceremony: María Corina Machado, who spent over a year in hiding in Venezuela, greeted supporters in Oslo, hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in her name. »