By Harshit
WASHINGTON, JANUARY 17, 2026 — 1 AM EDT
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly defended his decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, saying she personally offered it to him in recognition of what she described as his role in ending multiple wars.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said Machado told him that “nobody deserves this prize more than you,” crediting him with ending eight wars during his time in office. Trump said he viewed the gesture as “very nice” and described Machado as a “wonderful woman,” calling the exchange one of “mutual respect.”
The presentation took place during a closed-door meeting at the White House, where Trump and Machado discussed the political situation in Venezuela and the future of leadership in the country.
Machado’s Reasoning Behind the Gesture
Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her long-running campaign for democratic transition in Venezuela, said she presented the medal as a symbolic act of gratitude. She described Trump’s actions as demonstrating a “unique commitment” to Venezuela’s freedom and said she believed U.S. pressure had played a decisive role in weakening authoritarian rule in the country.
After the meeting, Machado briefly addressed supporters gathered outside the White House, saying only that Venezuelans “can count on President Trump,” without offering further details.
Nobel Committee Clarifies Award Rules
The Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a statement clarifying that while a Nobel laureate may give away or sell their medal, the Nobel Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred, shared, or reassigned.
The committee emphasized that the laureate recorded in history remains unchanged regardless of where the physical medal is located. Machado remains the sole and official recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, and Trump does not gain laureate status by possessing the medal.
The committee also noted that it does not comment on political interpretations or personal decisions made by laureates regarding their medals or prize materials.
Reaction and Controversy
Trump’s acceptance of the medal has drawn sharp criticism from political commentators and Nobel observers, particularly in Europe, who argue that the move risks politicizing an award meant to recognize individual achievement in peacebuilding. Others questioned Trump’s claim that he “ended eight wars,” noting that several conflicts referenced during his presidency either remain unresolved or were de-escalated rather than formally concluded.
Supporters of Trump, however, argue that the medal was a personal gift from a legitimate laureate and that accepting it violated no formal rules.
Trump’s Longstanding Nobel Claims
During and after his presidency, Trump has repeatedly said he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, citing diplomatic initiatives and conflict de-escalation efforts. While he was nominated multiple times by political allies, he was never selected as a laureate.
The current controversy has reignited debate over how Nobel symbolism can be used — or misused — in modern geopolitics, even when the legal status of the award remains unchanged.