Overview
- An administration official confirmed President Trump intends to keep the medal that María Corina Machado presented to him.
- Trump thanked Machado on his social platform, calling the presentation a gesture of mutual respect.
- The Nobel Committee reiterated that a prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred and that recognition remains inseparable from the laureate, even as medals may be given away or sold.
- In a follow-up note, the committee highlighted past examples of medals changing hands, including Knut Hamsun sending his to Joseph Goebbels, and cited sales such as Dmitry Muratov’s 2022 auction for $103.5 million.
- Machado said she offered the medal on behalf of Venezuelans and credited U.S. actions in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, while coverage also notes the White House backs Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader rather than Machado.