Stockholm [Sweden], January 18: The Nobel Foundation reaffirmed its stance that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred or symbolically passed on. This comes after a recent incident where Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado claimed to have presented her Nobel medal to US President Donald Trump in recognition of his support for Venezuelan democracy.

On January 18, the Foundation issued a statement reiterating that laureates cannot share or transfer their prizes once awarded. This policy is in line with the will of Alfred Nobel, which specifies that the prize should be given to individuals who have "conferred the greatest benefit to humankind" and outlines the specific rights associated with each award. The Foundation emphasized that the prize, even symbolically, cannot be passed on.

Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy for democratic rights in Venezuela, explained her gesture in a meeting with President Trump. She likened her presentation of the medal to a historical gift exchanged between Simón Bolívar and George Washington, symbolizing solidarity between Venezuela and the US.

Trump acknowledged the gesture as a "wonderful act of mutual respect" and thanked Machado for the medal, which he accepted during their meeting in the Oval Office. The White House also confirmed the exchange, highlighting the symbolic importance of the medal.

However, the Nobel Foundation’s official guidelines stand firm, clarifying that the Nobel Prize cannot be distributed or transferred under any circumstances. (ANI)