Norwegian Lawmakers React with Shock as María Corina Machado Presents Nobel Medal to Donald Trump
Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado’s decision to present her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked disbelief and criticism in Norway, where the Nobel Committee awards the prestigious prize.
Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado’s recent decision to present her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred a wave of incredulity and criticism in Norway, home to the Nobel Committee responsible for awarding the prize.
Machado, who met with President Trump at the White House on Thursday, handed over her Nobel medal as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for what she described as the "invaluable support of President Trump and the United States to the Venezuelan people." This move follows a significant development in Venezuelan politics, notably a U.S. military operation that resulted in the seizure of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
The presentation of the medal to Trump was met with swift and strong reactions from Norwegian officials and experts. Janne Haaland Matlary, a professor of international politics at the University of Oslo and former state secretary in Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Norway’s public broadcaster NRK that the act was "completely unheard of." Matlary further described Machado’s gesture as "disrespectful" and "pathetic," emphasizing that such an act undermines the prestige and integrity of the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded annually by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Similarly, Raymond Johansen, a prominent Norwegian lawmaker from the center-left Labour Party and former governing mayor of Oslo, expressed his dismay on social media. In a Facebook post, Johansen labeled the incident as "incredibly embarrassing and damaging to one of the world’s most respected and important prizes," according to a Google translation of his remarks.
The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded annually in Oslo, Norway, has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious international honors recognizing efforts toward peace and humanitarian causes. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which selects the laureates, maintains strict protocols regarding the prize and its presentation. The committee has not publicly commented on Machado’s decision to present her medal to President Trump.
From the U.S. side, President Trump acknowledged Machado’s gift on social media, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect." The White House also shared a photograph of the meeting, which shows the president holding up a large, gold-colored frame displaying the medal.
María Corina Machado, known for her opposition to the Venezuelan government and advocacy for democratic reforms, has been a vocal supporter of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s political affairs. Her decision to present the Nobel medal to President Trump appears to be a symbolic endorsement of the U.S. role in the recent political developments in Venezuela.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the symbolism and politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize. Experts in Norway caution that such gestures may risk politicizing the award and diminishing its global standing.
While the Nobel Committee has not issued an official statement regarding the controversy, Norwegian officials’ reactions underscore the sensitivity surrounding the handling and representation of the prize. The committee’s protocol typically involves laureates receiving the medal and diploma during an official ceremony in Oslo, without redistribution or transfer of the medal to third parties.
As the international community watches, the episode highlights the complex intersection of diplomacy, symbolism, and political messaging tied to one of the world’s most prestigious awards.