Norwegian political leaders and academics have reacted with shock and criticism after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump, a gesture widely described in Norway as unprecedented and damaging to the prestige of the award.
Machado, who met Trump at the White House on Thursday, said the presentation of the medal was a “profound expression of gratitude” for what she described as U.S. support for the Venezuelan people following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
The move prompted swift condemnation in Norway, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. Janne Haaland Matlary, a professor of international politics at the University of Oslo and former state secretary in Norway’s foreign affairs ministry, told public broadcaster NRK that the gesture was “completely unheard of” and undermined the value of the prize.
Raymond Johansen, a lawmaker from Norway’s centre-left Labour Party, described the move as “incredibly embarrassing” and said it risked damaging the credibility of one of the world’s most respected international honours.
The White House acknowledged the exchange, with Trump thanking Machado publicly and calling the presentation a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.” Images released later showed Trump holding a framed display containing the Nobel medal.
Norwegian institutions responsible for administering the prize were quick to clarify that ownership of the physical medal does not alter the official status of the award. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has previously stated that Nobel Prizes cannot be revoked, transferred or shared once awarded.
“The medal can change hands, but the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot,” the Nobel Peace Center said in a statement, reinforcing that Machado remains the sole recipient of the prize.
Political leaders across Norway echoed that position. Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, leader of the Centre Party, said the acceptance of the medal reflected poorly on Trump but had no bearing on the legitimacy of the award. Others, including members of the Conservative and Christian Democratic parties, stressed that the Nobel Peace Prize remains Machado’s alone regardless of the symbolic gesture.
The episode has renewed debate around the politicisation of the Nobel Peace Prize, an issue Trump himself has previously raised after the prize was awarded to Machado last year. While reactions in Norway were largely critical, lawmakers across the political spectrum agreed that the prize’s legal and historical standing remains unchanged.
