The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious honors, and Donald Trump has long said he believes he deserves it. Although he did not win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Trump became the focus of controversy after an unusual gesture by the actual winner, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
The prize was officially awarded to Machado for her efforts to promote democracy and a peaceful transition in Venezuela. Trump openly expressed disappointment, repeating claims that his role in ending conflicts should have earned him the award.
However, on January 15, Machado met Trump in Washington, D.C., and symbolically handed him her Nobel Peace Prize medal. She said the gesture was meant to recognize Trump’s commitment to Venezuela’s freedom and compared it to a historic exchange of medals symbolizing solidarity between the U.S. and Venezuela.
Trump shared the moment on social media, calling it a sign of mutual respect. Despite the headlines, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked—the award legally and officially remains Machado’s.
The incident sparked debate, highlighting Trump’s long-standing frustration with the Nobel Committee and reaffirming the strict rules governing how the Peace Prize is awarded and held.