Norway stunned after Machado gifts Nobel Prize medal to Trump
Ott Ummelas and Heidi Taksdal Skjeseth
Jan 16, 2026 – 9.50pm
Norway reacted with disbelief to the news that Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado gave her award medal to US President Donald Trump, who has long coveted the award.
“That’s completely unheard of,” Janne Haaland Matlary, a professor with the University of Oslo and a former politician, told public broadcaster NRK. “It’s a total lack of respect for the award, on her part,” she said, calling the act “meaningless” and “pathetic.”
Trump, who claims to deserve the peace prize for having resolved numerous wars during his second term, accepted the medal from the Venezuelan opposition leader at a White House meeting on Thursday. He has earlier expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Donald Trump and Maria Machado with the Nobel Peace Prize at the White House on Thursday. X/The White House
The award cannot be shared or transferred, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement last week. It didn’t respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment on Friday.
Machado has been shut out of Venezuela’s leadership transition since US forces ousted Nicolás Maduro on January 3 but kept his regime in place. Machado gave Trump the medal as “a recognition of his unique commitment with our freedom,” she said on Thursday.
The peace prize is arguably the world’s most prestigious award for diplomatic efforts. It’s one of five Nobel Prizes established under the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite who died in 1896.
“This is unbelievably embarrassing and damaging to one of the world’s most recognised and important prizes,” Raymond Johansen, a former Oslo mayor with the ruling Labor Party said in a Facebook post. “The awarding of the prize is now so politicised and potentially dangerous that it could easily legitimise an anti-peace prize development.”
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The foreign minister made the comments after she was asked if the US was creating a world order in which "might was right"
Wong said the world was moving through a "time of great change", and the federal government was working to ensure peace and stability in our region. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has praised Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for gifting her Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump, saying it was "very generous of her".
Machado presented the prize to Trump during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House on Thursday. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: "María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!"
On Friday, Wong was asked if Trump was creating a world order in which "might was right" after the US captured deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a military operation earlier this month.
"Can I first say in relation to Ms Machado's presentation or her gifting of the peace prize, that was very generous of her," she said.
The questions still hanging over Trump's plan to 'run' Venezuela
Machado presented the prize to Trump during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House on Thursday. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: "María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!"
On Friday, Wong was asked if Trump was creating a world order in which "might was right" after the US captured deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a military operation earlier this month.
"Can I first say in relation to Ms Machado's presentation or her gifting of the peace prize, that was very generous of her," she said.
The questions still hanging over Trump's plan to 'run' Venezuela
Wong said the world was moving through a "time of great change" and the federal government was working to ensure peace and stability in our region.
"What I have also said is we should be confident as Australians in our ability to navigate these changes together," she said.
"What I have also said is we should be confident as Australians in our ability to navigate these changes together," she said.
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Clever Penny - by praising Machado she avoided commenting on the criminal act of a Caribbean Pirate, wakakaka
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