Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, presented her physical Nobel Peace Prize medal to former U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on January 15, 2026. Machado, who was awarded the prestigious prize for her persistent efforts in promoting democratic rights and advocating for a peaceful transition in Venezuela, described her gesture as a symbol of appreciation for Trump's commitment to Venezuelan freedom. Trump acknowledged receiving the medal, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect" in a social media post. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Nobel Institute promptly issued a clarification, stating that while the physical medal can be transferred, the honor and title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate are inseparable from the individual and cannot be shared, revoked, or officially transferred to another person. This statement emphasized that regardless of who possesses the medal or diploma, the original laureate remains historically recognized as the prize recipient. The event occurred amidst significant political developments, including a U.S. intervention that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Machado's action was widely interpreted as an attempt to garner further U.S. support for her vision of Venezuela's post-Maduro political future, despite Trump's earlier reservations about her leadership capabilities. This incident drew considerable international attention, prompting discussions on the symbolic versus official implications of such a transfer and highlighting the ongoing political complexities in Venezuela and its international relations.