Norway has reacted with sharp criticism after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former US President Donald Trump, an act that has drawn rare public rebuke from Norwegian politicians and academics.
The medal was presented during a meeting at the White House this week, with Machado describing the gesture as a recognition of Trump’s role in supporting democratic movements in Venezuela. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, however, has maintained that Nobel medals cannot be transferred or shared under its rules.
Public broadcaster NRK reported that senior figures in Norway described the move as unprecedented, with critics arguing that the gesture undermines the credibility of one of the world’s most prestigious awards.
The White House did not immediately clarify whether Trump formally accepted the medal, though Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Nobel Committee’s decisions and has repeatedly claimed he deserved the prize for diplomatic efforts during his presidency.
Norwegian leaders question the gesture
Norwegian political leaders and scholars reacted with disbelief after news of the medal transfer emerged. Janne Haaland Matlary, a professor at the University of Oslo and former politician, told NRK that the act showed “a lack of respect for the award,” adding that such a gesture had no precedent in Nobel history.
Former Norwegian finance minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said Trump’s willingness to accept the medal reflected a desire to associate himself with honours earned by others. Leaders from Norway’s Socialist Left Party also described the move as “absurd” and “meaningless.”
Nobel Committee rules and past controversies
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said last week that Nobel Peace Prize medals cannot be transferred, reinforcing its longstanding rules amid the controversy. The committee declined to comment further following Machado’s meeting with Trump.
The episode has reignited debate in Norway over the increasing politicisation of the Nobel Peace Prize. While the award has historically recognised diplomatic efforts and humanitarian work, several past decisions — including awards to Barack Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi and Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed — later became subjects of international criticism.
Machado’s position and Venezuela context
Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in opposing Venezuela’s authoritarian leadership, has been sidelined from the country’s political transition following the removal of Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. She said the medal was given to Trump as a symbol of gratitude for international support for Venezuela’s democratic movement.
Norwegian commentators contrasted the gesture with earlier instances where Nobel medals were used for humanitarian causes, including Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov’s decision to auction his prize to aid Ukrainian refugees.
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment for Norway’s international standing as custodian of the Nobel Peace Prize, with officials facing renewed scrutiny over how political symbolism intersects with the award’s original intent.
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