Maria Corina Machado Offers Trump Nobel Prize Nomination, Committee Deems It Invalid
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has reportedly made an unprecedented offer to former U.S. President Donald Trump: her own nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. The offer, extended during private diplomatic backchannels in late 2025, was intended to recognize Trump's perceived role in promoting liberty and democracy in Latin America. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which oversees the prestigious award, has swiftly rejected the validity of such a transfer. According to Institute Director Olav Njølstad, the Nobel Prize is strictly non-transferable and cannot be given away or swapped between individuals. 'The nomination process is confidential and the nomination itself belongs to the submitter, not the recipient,' Njølstad stated in a brief press release. 'One laureate cannot offer their prize to another, nor can a nominee offer their nomination status to a third party.' The revelation has sparked a flurry of political analysis. Sources close to Machado suggest the move was a strategic gesture to secure Trump's continued backing for the Venezuelan opposition movement, which has faced increasing pressure from the Nicolas Maduro regime. Trump, who has frequently boasted about his administration's tough stance on Maduro, has yet to comment publicly on Machado's offer. The situation highlights the intersection of high-stakes international diplomacy and the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize, reminding political actors that the century-old award remains bound by rigid procedural statutes. While Machado's gesture was intended as a symbol of alliance, the Institute's ruling underscores that the prize cannot be used as a bargaining chip in geopolitical maneuvering. The Institute further clarified that nominations submitted for the current year remain under seal for 50 years, making any public discussion of nomination specifics highly irregular.