Donald Trump missed the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, but the 18-karat gold medal could still land in his hands.
**María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the award, will meet Trump at the White House Thursday amid speculation she may hand over her prize to thank him for the U.S. military raid that ousted Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
At a Glance
- Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for championing democracy in Venezuela
- She credited Trump after the award and hinted Venezuelans “want to give it to him”
- Trump backs Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader, not Machado
- The Norwegian Nobel Institute says the prize cannot be transferred, but has no power to block a gift
Why it matters: If Machado offers the medal, Trump-who has long demanded Nobel recognition-would gain a potent symbol of global validation while sidelining the very figure the prize was meant to honor.
A Prize for Trump?
Machado went into hiding under Maduro’s rule and emerged after the U.S. strike demanding the presidency, citing her coalition’s victory in 2024 elections. Trump instead endorsed Rodríguez, calling her a “terrific person” and labeling Machado a “very nice woman” who lacks “respect” inside Venezuela.
White House officials framed Thursday’s meeting as a courtesy visit Machado requested. Yet both sides have incentives to play along.
- Machado needs U.S. muscle to force free elections.
- Trump wants proof his foreign interventions warrant Nobel glory.
Anna Kelly, White House spokeswoman, stated: “President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize many times over… He doesn’t care about the recognition-only saving lives.”
Can She Give It Away?
The Norwegian Nobel Institute insists the prize “stands for all time” and cannot be shared or transferred. But the institute concedes it has no enforcement power if Machado chooses to hand over the $1.2 million, gold medal, and certificate.
Asked on Fox News if she had offered the award to Trump, Machado replied: “It hasn’t happened yet… the Venezuelan people certainly want to give it to him and share it with him.”
A Machado adviser told News Of Losangeles “no comment” on whether she will present the medal during the Oval Office visit.
Gift-Horse President
Trump already accepted a luxury jet from Qatar he plans to convert into the next Air Force One. A senior official predicted similar enthusiasm for the Nobel hardware: “If she wants to gift him something, he’s not one to refuse a gift.”
Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security adviser, called the move “brilliant,” adding: “Trump took a big risk… Are they going to take the money away?”
Newt Gingrich, author of Understanding Trump, expects the former president to accept and display the medal in the Oval Office, calling it “a Trump move.”
Long-Shot for 2026
Lawmakers and world leaders have nominated Trump for the 2026 prize. Yet Norwegian officials say his recent threats to annex Greenland hurt his odds.
Kåre Aas, former Norwegian ambassador, noted: “Annexing Greenland and threatening European countries doesn’t at all strengthen President Trump’s chances.”
Trump has vented publicly, calling it an “embarrassment” to Norway that he remains without a Nobel.
What Happens Next?
If Machado offers the medal, protocol dictates a U.S. president should decline, said Lewis Lukens, former embassy official. “But I can totally see Trump saying: ‘Thank you very much. I deserve it, and I’m going to keep it.'”
Possible destinations:
- Roosevelt Room, beside Theodore Roosevelt’s 1906 medal
- Future presidential library, alongside the Qatari jet
Gingrich summed up the uncertainty: “I just watch with amazement to see what happens next.”
Key Takeaways
- Machado’s White House visit could end with Trump holding the Nobel medal-even if the committee objects.
- The gesture would reward Trump for military action that benefited Machado yet sidelined her politically.
- Acceptance would break diplomatic norms but align with Trump’s history of embracing controversial trophies.
