Nobel Peace Center sends pointed message after Venezuela's opposition leader gifts Peace Prize to Trump

Donald Trump has finally been gifted the Nobel Peace Prize he so badly desired, though it wasn't the Nobel Peace Committee who was responsible for the move.

The US president seemed desperate to win the 2025 edition of the award, but he was ousted by María Corina Machado of Venezuela, who was honoured for promoting democracy in the country.

Speaking at the time, the committee said: "She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

Machado was in hiding at the time of the award being announced, and it's fair to say that Trump wasn't best pleased.

To kick off 2026, Trump ordered US forces to carry out a 'large-scale' strike on the South American nation, even capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores.

Donald Trump had been desperate to put the award under his belt (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Maduro is now facing drug and weapons offences on US soil after he was thrown behind bars.

In an attack which Trump described as 'one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history', he said that they would effectively 'run' Venezuela.

Politician Delcy Rodriguez has since been named as the country's interim leader.

Following Trump's latest move, Machado made the decision to gift the 79-year-old her Nobel Peace Prize medal.

Snaps of the pair in the Oval Office have since been shared on social media, with Trump seen beaming with his name seen on the prize itself.

Speaking to reporters in Washington DC yesterday (15 January), Machado said: "I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans."

"I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," she later told the press, saying it was 'a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom'.

However, the Nobel Peace Center, the museum about the Nobel Peace Prize, has seemingly responded to the move. While noting that many prizes 'have been passed on' in the past, it said that 'a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot'.

Trump was beaming with his unofficial Nobel Prize (Daniel Torok/The White House via Getty Images)

Taking to X, it wrote about the medal itself, noting its diameter, weight, and gold material, as well as the portrait of founder Alfred Nobel on the head's side.

The Nobel Peace Center added: "Did you know that some Nobel Peace Prize medals have been passed on after the award was given? A well‑known case is Dmitry Muratov’s medal, which was auctioned for over USD 100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine.

"And the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center is actually on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway’s first Peace Prize laureate.

"But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: 'Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time'."

It reminded: "A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot."

María Corina Machado called Trump the 'heir of Washington' (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Machado didn't seem to agree, pointing out that a medal meant for President George Washington was presented to the family of French military officer Marquis de Lafayette, who helped the US in the Revolutionary War.

Taking to Truth Social, the US president said: "It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much.

"María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!"

She had called Trump the 'heir of Washington', after she admitted she was open to gifting him the medal.

The Nobel Committee previously emphasised that the prize was not transferable, saying: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive a number of requests for comments regarding the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status.

"The facts are clear and well established. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time."

Machado had been in hiding since being detained by Maduro's government in Caracas last year, leading to her fleeing the country.

LADbible Group has contacted the White House for comment.