The Norwegian Nobel Committee declared in a scathing statement that Trump is still not a Nobel laureate, despite accepting Maria Corina Machado’s coveted prize
Shortly after the meeting, the White House shared on social media a photo of Machado presenting the president with her shiny medal and diploma(Image: )
President Donald Trump received the Nobel Peace Prize from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday at the White House, but he still does not count as a Nobel laureate, the Norwegian Nobel Committee declared in a scathing statement.
Machado met with Trump on Thursday at the White House, two weeks after U.S. strikes resulted in the ousting and arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Interestingly, however, discussions of the country’s future were diverted to one of President Trump’s personal goals: winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
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Shortly after the meeting, the White House shared on social media a photo of Machado presenting the president with her shiny medal and diploma. In response, the Nobel Committee issued a statement saying he is still not a winner of the coveted prize.
“A Nobel Peace Prize laureate receives two central symbols of the prize: a gold medal and a diploma. In addition, the prize money is awarded separately. Regardless of what may happen to the medal, the diploma, or the prize money, it is and remains the original laureate who is recorded in history as the recipient of the prize,” the statement read. “Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else’s possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The Nobel committee said it does not concern itself with what laureates may do with their prizes after they win(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced,” the statement continued. “A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time.”
The committee added that it does not concern itself with what laureates may do with their prizes after they win, as it currently has no rules restricting what winners may do with their medals and diplomas once they are presented.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not see it as their role to engage in day-to-day commentary on Peace Prize laureates or the political processes that they are engaged in,” the statement declared. “The prize is awarded on the basis of the laureate’s contributions by the time that the committee’s decision is taken.”
“The Committee does not comment on laureates’ subsequent statements, decisions, or actions,” it added. “Any ongoing assessments or choices made by laureates must be understood as their own responsibility.”
Over the past year, Trump has tirelessly campaigned to become a Nobel laureate, falsely claiming he has ended eight wars during his tenure in Washington.
Machado met with Trump on Thursday at the White House, two weeks after U.S. strikes resulted in the ousting and arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores(Image: Getty Images)
However, his hopes were dashed when the peace prize committee awarded Machado in October for her efforts in leading the Venezuelan opposition and promoting transparency in her country’s elections, a move that led her to go into hiding for months.
Machado recently accepted her prize in Norway, where she survived a treacherous journey trying to leave her native nation. But after Trump’s effort in forcing Maduro out of power, Machado announced she would give the American president his long-desired prize.
“Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done,” Trump wrote on social media. “Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!”
Following Maduro’s ousting, Trump announced his administration would “run” Venezuela during a transition period. Meanwhile, in the country, Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has been sworn in as the interim leader.
Alarmingly, neither the Trump administration nor the interim Venezuelan government has shared concrete plans for presidential elections in the country, despite its constitution mandating that a contest take place within 30 days of the president being permanently vacated.
