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Machado 2025 noble peace prize winner gifted her Nobel medal to US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting on January 15, 2026, sparking controversy. The Nobel Committee emphasized that prizes are inseparable from laureates and not transferable, though past recipients have sold or donated medals.​​
Nobel Medal Transferability
- Medal vs. Prize: The Nobel Prize itself is inseparable from the laureate—it represents the recognition of their achievement. The medal, however, is a physical object that can be sold, donated, or gifted.
- Committee’s Position: The Nobel Foundation has clarified that while medals have been auctioned or donated, the honor of the prize cannot be transferred to another person.
- Historical Examples:
- Some laureates or their families have auctioned medals for charity or financial reasons.
- In 2014, James Watson (co-discoverer of DNA’s structure) sold his Nobel medal at auction.
- In 2015, Leonid Kantorovich’s medal was auctioned.
- Medals have also been donated to institutions or museums
Symbolism of the Prize
- Global recognition of nonviolent struggle.
- Encouragement for oppressed communities worldwide.
- Pressure on authoritarian regimes to respect democratic values.
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