US President Donald Trump has faced criticism after his recent remarks concerning the Nobel Peace Prize.
This follows a historic statement from the Nobel Committee regarding the transferability of the Peace Prize. This was in response to Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado’s unexpected gesture to give her award to President Trump.
The Nobel Committee has since confirmed that the award cannot be ‘revoked, shared, or transferred’.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive numerous inquiries about the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status,” stated the organization on its website last Friday (January 9).
“The facts are clear and well established. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Machado received the acclaimed prize for her efforts to pull Venezuela back from becoming ‘a brutal, authoritarian state’.
Her offer followed the events of January 3, when a raid on Venezuela’s capital led to the capture of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, who was then taken to New York City for trial.
In an interview, Trump remarked that he should have received the Nobel Peace Prize for what he refers to as the ‘eight and a quarter’ wars he claims to have concluded.
He told Fox News’s Sean Hannity: “But you know, when you put out eight wars, in theory, you should get one for each war.
“It makes me feel so good. Not because of a Nobel Prize, but because I saved millions and millions of lives, and that’s what really makes me feel good.”
When asked by Hannity if he would accept the Nobel Peace Prize from Machado, Trump replied: “Well, I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her, and I’ve heard that she wants to do that.
“That would be a great honor.”
Trump’s comments have sparked criticism, with political commentator and influencer Harry Sisson stating: “This is so beyond humiliating for the United States.
“Trump won’t support Machado in Venezuela unless she gives him the Nobel Peace prize she won. HE IS A CHILD.”
Another person remarked: “A brave woman wins the Nobel for helping liberate her country, and all he can think about is how it might end up on his mantel. The narcissism is bottomless.”
Attempts have been made to contact The White House for a statement.
Machado discussed her decision to dedicate her award to Trump during a Fox News interview, stating: “Let me be very clear. As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated [it] to Trump because I knew at that point, he deserved it.
“And lot of people, most people said it was impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, 3 January.
“And so, I believe he deserved it. January 3 will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny. It’s a milestone, and it’s not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it’s a huge step for humanity, for freedom, and human dignity.”