The recent episode in which Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel medal to Donald Trump at the White House has drawn attention across the world. Mr. Trump described it as a “wonderful gesture of self-respect” and said he deserved it more than anyone in history. However, such an act cannot replace the strict and fair process through which the Nobel Committee awards the prize.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has rightly clarified that a Nobel laureate cannot give away the medal. The award is linked only to the Committee’s decision and belongs to the laureate. It is not something that can be passed on to someone else. Any claim to the contrary distorts the true meaning of the prize.
Trump’s repeated claims of stopping wars — including between India and Pakistan — do not match his record of aggressive language and military actions. This includes the bombing of Iran’s nuclear installations along with Israel. Such actions go against the values of peace that the Nobel Peace Prize is meant to recognise.
Trump also criticised former President Barack Obama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize early in his presidency. Opinions may differ on that decision, but it was still a formal award made by the Nobel Committee, not a medal offered as part of political drama.
In simple terms, Trump cannot claim an honour he has not earned. The Nobel Peace Prize should remain a symbol of real peace efforts, careful judgment, and moral responsibility, not a prop used for political display, personal promotion, or the language of war posturing.
