Oslo / Washington: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has underscored that the Nobel Peace Prize is inseparably linked to the individual or organisation officially designated as the laureate, even if the physical medal, diploma or prize money changes hands after the award. The statement, issued on January 16, 2026, comes in the wake of a high‑profile gesture in which the 2025 Peace Prize medal was handed to former U.S. President Donald Trump by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado — the record‑listed laureate for that year.
In its clarification, the Nobel Committee stressed that while the tangible elements of the prize — the gold medal and diploma — may be gifted, sold, displayed or otherwise transferred at a laureate’s discretion, the honour and recognition of being a Nobel Peace Prize recipient remain permanently tied to the person or entity named by the Committee. The organisation’s statutes place no restrictions on how winners may handle the physical award items after the announcement, but the award itself is final and non‑transferable.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was conferred on María Corina Machado, recognised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for her advocacy of democratic rights and peaceful political transition in Venezuela. The award includes a gold medal, a diploma, and prize money equivalent to roughly 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.19 million).
On January 15, 2026, Machado met with Trump at the White House and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal and diploma as a symbolic token of gratitude — a move that Trump welcomed publicly and which sparked global attention. The gesture occurred amid significant U.S. support for political developments in Venezuela.
Responding to the unusual episode, the Nobel Committee’s press release — titled “The Nobel Prize and the Laureate Are Inseparable” — reaffirmed that:
The Nobel Peace Prize honour is permanently recorded with the laureate, even if medals, diplomas, or prize money are subsequently given away or sold.
A laureate cannot transfer, share or revoke the award itself, and the decision of the Committee stands for all time.
The Committee declines to comment on personal decisions or political motivations of laureates once the prize has been announced.
The statement reflects long‑standing Nobel Foundation policy interpreted from Alfred Nobel’s will, which defines the prize as an individual or organisational distinction cemented at the time of award.
Historically, several Nobel laureates have chosen to donate, display or even sell their medals for various causes. For instance, Russian Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov auctioned his medal in 2022 to benefit UNICEF’s Ukrainian refugee relief fund, while other recipients have donated medals to museums or institutions as part of legacy initiatives.
However, the 2025 episode has reignited global discussion about the symbolic power of Nobel medals versus the formal attribution of the award — particularly when linked to high‑profile political figures. Analysts note that the Committee’s clarification aims to preserve the integrity and historical record of the Nobel Peace Prize amid evolving media and geopolitical dynamics.