Maria Machado's gift of Nobel medal to Trump slammed: 'As worthless as FIFA’s Peace Prize'

WASHINGTON, DC: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado sparked widespread debate after stating that she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump despite the Nobel Committee's rule that the award "cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others."

Machado said she gave the award to Trump in recognition of what she described as his “unique commitment with our freedom.”

She added, “200 years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal - in this case a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize - as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom."

Machado met with Trump on Thursday, January 15. Following the meeting, she reportedly said, “I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans.”  

Trump calls María Corina Machado 'a wonderful woman'

Trump praised Machado in a post on his Truth Social platform, writing, "It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She's a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done.”

“Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!” he added.

The White House later released a photo showing Trump holding the medal, displayed in a large gold frame. An inscription on the frame read, “Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.”

The meeting came days after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3. The US military operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 people. 

Internet calls prize transfer 'the most embarrassing thing'   

Machado's gesture drew sharp criticism and mockery online, with users questioning its legitimacy and meaning.

One Bluesky user wrote sarcastically, “Donald Trump has received the nobel peace prize in the way that michael scott declared bankruptcy.”

A separate post read, “And with that, the Nobel Peace Prize became as worthless as FIFA’s Peace Prize.”

Another comment, “She can certainly give it to him if she wants to, but it’s meaningless. He might now be *possessing* a Nobel Peace prize, but he still hasn’t *won* one.”

One wrote, “This will be the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to a Nobel prize until this same medal sells on eBay in 2029.” 

“That ‘Peace Prize’ is now a cursed object,” a comment read.

Another Bluesky comment was “Which means NOTHING officially. It only means this woman is either trying to bribe Trump (which we know works), or is naive beyond belief about who he REALLY is.”

A tweet read, "He’s so easily bribed it’s kinda pathetic."

"Even the interns running this account ain’t embarrassed? The only institution that can recognise someone with a peace prize is the official institution that awarded her. The fact that he actually bullied her to hand over the award and that she is so desperate to be anointed as the next Venezuelan president, anyway, you can’t shame the shameless," an X user posted.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.