White House calls for Nobel recognition of Trump, says he ‘rightfully deserves’ Peace Prize

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House has escalated its criticism of the Nobel Foundation, with Communications Director Steven Cheung demanding the organization officially acknowledge President Donald Trump’s "unprecedented accomplishments” in global diplomacy.

Cheung’s remarks came after the Nobel Foundation blocked an attempt by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to present Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, clarifying that the honor cannot be transferred or shared, even symbolically.

The dispute has quickly drawn attention after Cheung accused the Nobel body of political bias, arguing that it has repeatedly commented on Trump while refusing to recognize what he described as historic peace achievements under the President’s leadership.

White House says Trump ‘rightfully deserves’ Nobel Peace Prize

In a post on X shared Sunday, January 18, Cheung sharply criticized the Nobel Foundation’s response to the medal handover, insisting the committee should focus on Trump’s diplomatic record rather than procedural restrictions.

“The @NobelPrize has now issued multiple statements/comments on President Trump (who rightfully deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace to at least eight wars),” Cheung wrote.

He went on to accuse the foundation of politicizing the issue, adding, “Instead of trying to play politics, they should highlight the President’s unprecedented accomplishments.” 

Cheung later reinforced his argument, stating that Trump’s foreign policy decisions and negotiations had produced tangible outcomes that merited global recognition, regardless of whether a formal nomination had taken place.

Maria Corina Machado presents Nobel medal to President Trump

The controversy began during a White House meeting on Thursday, January 15, when Machado presented Trump with her 18-carat gold Nobel Peace Prize medal.

Machado, who received the Peace Prize last year, described the gesture as symbolic, crediting Trump’s pressure on Venezuela.

The Nobel committee originally selected her for “her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela's ruling regime as a key factor in advancing democratic movements in her country.

The Nobel Committee awarded Machado the prize for what it described as “her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

By handing the medal to Trump, Machado aimed to publicly recognize his role in shaping international pressure against authoritarian leadership in Venezuela.

Nobel Foundation blocks transfer of Peace Prize honor

The Nobel Foundation responded swiftly, issuing a statement clarifying that its rules strictly prohibit the transfer or redistribution of Nobel honors.

According to the foundation, prizes are awarded only to individuals who “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind,” and the right to hold the honor remains exclusively with the original recipient.

“A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed,” the foundation stated, effectively preventing Trump from claiming the medal or the award as his own.

Despite the clarification, Cheung continued to press the issue, calling on the Nobel body to at least formally acknowledge Trump’s diplomatic record, even if the prize itself cannot be reassigned.