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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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The White House has hit back at the Nobel Foundation, the group responsible for administrating Nobel prizes, after it said awards could not "be passed on or further distributed."
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado offered her peace prize, which she won in 2025, to President Donald Trump, which he accepted. But the Nobel Foundation said one of its missions was "to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes" and clarified that they couldn't be given elsewhere, prompting backlash from the White House.
Anna Kelly, White House deputy secretary wrote on X: "This is some pretentious nonsense," and said the foundation wanted "to criticize instead of recognize his incredible efforts towards PEACE."
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White House director of communications Steven Cheung accused the Nobel Foundation of "trying to play politics" and said "they should highlight the President's unprecedented accomplishments."
Newsweek contacted the Nobel Foundation by email to comment on this story.
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Why It Matters
Trump has long coveted the prestigious prize, which recognizes an individual or organization that has managed to "advance fellowship between nations." Only four U.S. presidents have won the award, which is among the world's most prominent international honors. President Barack Obama received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, eight months into his presidency.
What To Know
The Trump administration had said the president should have been awarded the peace prize for his role in ending multiple conflicts. Machado won it in October 2025 with the committee citing her fight for democracy against President Nicolas Maduro. Machado visited the White House last week, where she offered Trump her prize.
"I presented the president of the United States the medal...the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado told reporters.
Some analysts believed she made the offer in an attempt to bring the president around to supporting her bid to lead Venezuela after his administration removed Maduro in a military operation earlier this month. While Machado won a primary to face Maduro in 2023, Trump has said that he does not believe Machado has the support of the Venezuelan people and it remains unclear who will lead the post-Maduro Venezuela in the long term.
Speaking to Newsweek, Mark Shanahan who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K. said: "Machado passed on her medal as a lever to gain support from Trump in her quest to form Venezuela's next government. He may have gained the bauble, but not the actual prize."
The Nobel Foundation said in a press statement: "Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else’s possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."
It added: "A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced. A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social last week: "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!"
The White House in a post on X last week: "President Donald J. Trump meets with María Corina Machado of Venezuela in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor."
The Nobel Foundation wrote on X: "One of the core missions of the Nobel Foundation is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel’s will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who 'have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind,' and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize. A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed.
Anna Kelly, White House deputy secretary wrote on X: "This is some pretentious nonsense. President Trump has saved countless lives by ending eight wars around the world. That certainly constitutes a 'benefit to humankind.' But these elites want to criticize instead of recognize his incredible efforts towards PEACE. Ridiculous."
White House director of communications Steven Cheung wrote on X: "The @NobelPrize has now issued multiple statements/comments on President Trump (who rightfully deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace to at least eight wars). Instead of trying to play politics, they should highlight the President’s unprecedented accomplishments.
What Happens Next
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez remains in power in Venezuela. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are to stand trial for drugs and weapons charges in New York City
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