“This is really no laughing matter,” the publication emphasizes.
Formally, this is not about transferring the prize itself – the Nobel Committee emphasizes that the award is not transferable – but the gesture itself was perceived as a demonstrative ingratiation to Trump. His critics recalled the president's long-standing Nobel Prize aspirations and his history of accepting dubious awards, such as the FIFA Peace Prize, designed to flatter him.
CNN recalls that Trump actively, although unsuccessfully, lobbied for his candidacy for the Nobel Prize. When Machado received the award in October 2025 for her fight against the regime of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, she dedicated it to Trump, calling him a key ally on the path to freedom and democracy in Venezuela. She directly stated that the country needs the help of the US President to stop Maduro's fight against his own people.
Less than three months later, the Trump administration actually carried out an operation to remove Maduro. However, Trump himself soon refused to support Machado as the country's future leader, saying that she “does not have enough respect within Venezuela.” After this, reports appeared in the American media that Machado might present Trump with his Nobel medal.
Critics see a warning signal in the situation: in their opinion, such a symbolic gift looks like an attempt to influence US decisions on issues of war, change of power and the future of Venezuela through personal flattery to the president. Others note that for Machado herself, this could be a forced step or a tool of pressure in conditions of extremely high stakes.
Lawyers point out that formally such a gesture is unlikely to violate the emoluments clause of the US Constitution, since Machado is not the head of state. Still, the story has again raised questions about whether Trump's foreign policy decisions are becoming too dependent on personal recognition, awards and kudos.
“Trump has shown that he is all about profit and rewards. And this episode, perhaps more than any previous episode, underscores the potential problems with Trump's insistence on praise and rewards,” the post said.
