The entity responsible for the Nobel Peace Prize has dismissed comments from Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Colina Machado about potentially granting the award to President Donald Trump. On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Institute made clear that once awarded, a Nobel Prize cannot be revoked or transferred to someone else after Machado’s suggestion earlier in the week.
“Once a Nobel Prize has been announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to another person,” the institute stated. They emphasized that their decision is final.
This clarification followed Machado discussing the idea on Fox News’ “Hannity” during a segment earlier that week.
On the show, Hannity asked Machado if she had actually offered Trump the Nobel Prize, to which she acknowledged, “Well, that hasn’t happened yet.” She expressed her desire to personally convey her thoughts to Trump, noting that the prize symbolizes the Venezuelan people’s aspirations. “What he did is historic. It’s a big step towards a transition to democracy,” she said.
Following Trump’s operation to capture Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president currently facing drug trafficking charges in the U.S., Machado expressed her support on air. When she asked Trump if he would accept the prize, he responded, “I hear she wants to do that. It’s a great honor.”
Machado had recently clandestinely exited Venezuela and traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump. “As soon as I learned that I had won the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to President Trump because I believed at that point that he deserved it,” she said, adding that many had deemed Trump’s actions impossible.
President Trump announced plans to meet with Venezuelan opposition leaders in Washington the following week, though he had previously criticized Machado, claiming she had “no domestic support or respect” as a leader. It’s ironic, considering Trump’s past support of Maduro and those close to him.
