Machado gifted her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. Can Nobel Prizes be transferred?

Venezuelan opposition leader María Machado appeared in Washington, D.C., and transferred her Nobel Peace Prize, a symbol of honor, to Donald Trump, sparking international and American media discussions about the true meaning of the Nobel Peace Prize. Recently, when Machado met with U.S. President Trump at the White House, she “gifted” him her Nobel Peace Prize awarded last year, claiming that this act symbolized a shared commitment to the ideals of democracy and freedom. Trump responded that it was a gesture of mutual respect. However, the Nobel Committee immediately clarified that while medals can be transferred, the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be legally or institutionally transferred.

What is the origin of the Nobel Prize?

Since its first award in 1901, the Nobel Prize has been regarded as one of the most prestigious honors worldwide. Laureates are highly recognized not only for their outstanding contributions in peace, science, literature, and other fields but also receive a substantial monetary award. The Nobel Peace Prize originated from the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895, aiming to honor individuals or organizations that make the greatest contributions to promoting friendship between nations. The award includes an 18K gold medal and over one million dollars in prize money.

Is María Machado a pawn of the United States?

Machado’s political career is filled with controversy and risk. Before fleeing Venezuela at the end of last year, she had long hidden to avoid arrest by authorities. In October last year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded her the Peace Prize, praising her as a woman who still guards the flame of democracy amid increasing darkness. At that time, Machado dedicated the award to the suffering Venezuelan people and thanked Trump for his support of the opposition movement. However, the White House also criticized the Nobel Committee for placing politics above peace.

In early January, the U.S. swiftly arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Machado seemed to be forgotten and marginalized by the Trump administration, which publicly supported Maduro’s vice president. As the U.S. stance in Venezuela shifted earlier this year, Machado’s influence noticeably declined. Against this backdrop, Machado recently praised Trump highly in an interview with U.S. media, expressing hope to share the Nobel Peace Prize with him, which was interpreted as a political signal seeking renewed U.S. support.

Nobel Committee’s firm stance: The Peace Prize title belongs only to the original recipient

In response to this “transfer” incident, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Nobel Foundation reiterated that once announced, the Nobel Prize is final, non-revocable, non-shareable, and the laureate’s title cannot be transferred. The Nobel Peace Center also stated on social media that while physical medals can be transferred as tangible items, the title of “Nobel Peace Prize laureate” forever belongs only to the original recipient.

Can Nobel laureates sell their medals? Medals have been sold multiple times

Looking into history, Nobel medals have been sold or auctioned many times. From game theory pioneer John Nash to DNA structure discoverers Crick and Watson, and Russian journalist Muratov, the market prices for these medals have repeatedly hit new highs, with auction proceeds often used for charity or public purposes. However, these actions have never altered the legal and symbolic significance of the laureate’s title.

Nobel laureate John Nash’s medal sold for $730,000 at Christie’s auction

In 2019, the estate executor of the late mathematician John Nash Jr. auctioned his Nobel Economics Prize medal awarded in 1994. Nash gained fame for his work on economic game theory, including the “Prisoner’s Dilemma,” which was adapted into the 2001 film “A Beautiful Mind” starring Russell Crowe. According to Christie’s auction house, the medal was sold for $735,000 (including commission).

Additionally, Nobel prizes are not unrejectable. French writer Jean-Paul Sartre and Vietnamese politician Lê Đức Thọ both refused to accept their awards for ideological or political reasons, but even so, the Nobel Committee still considers them official laureates. According to the Nobel Foundation’s statutes, once awarded, the prize cannot be revoked or reconsidered, and the decision is not subject to appeal.

In this incident, Machado’s symbolic act of “gift-giving” is more seen as a political maneuver rather than an effective transfer, revealing the Nobel Peace Prize’s “symbolic” power in contemporary international politics and the underlying political manipulation.

This article “María Machado sent her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, can the Nobel Prize be transferred?” originally appeared on ABMedia.