"Ended 8 Wars" Claim For months leading up to the 2025
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In January 2026, a unique diplomatic event occurred when Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, presented her actual gold medal to US President Donald Trump during a White House visit.
The following report explains the justification behind this move and the "8 wars" claim that sparked it.
The "Ended 8 Wars" Claim
For months leading up to the 2025 Nobel announcement, Donald Trump argued that he was more deserving of the Peace Prize than anyone else in history.
His central argument—which he repeated over 60 times in various speeches—was that he had personally settled or de-escalated eight major global conflicts in a single year.
The conflicts he claimed to have "stopped" included:
India and Pakistan: A brief but intense aerial flare-up in May 2025.
Israel and Hamas / Israel and Iran: Major de-escalations in the Middle East.
Armenia and Azerbaijan: Long-standing territorial disputes.
Other regional tensions: Conflicts involving Rwanda and the DR Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, and Egypt and Ethiopia.
Trump’s logic was simple: "In theory, you should get the Nobel Prize for every war you stopped." He later added that he might soon deserve a ninth for his efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Machado’s Gift and the "Transfer"
When Maria Corina Machado was officially awarded the prize in late 2025, Trump was vocal about his disappointment, calling it a "major embarrassment" for the Nobel Committee.
However, in January 2026, Machado visited the Oval Office and handed the physical medal to Trump. Her justification was:
Gratitude for Venezuela: She presented it on behalf of the Venezuelan people to thank Trump for his "courageous mission" and role in the removal of Nicolas Maduro.
Mutual Respect: She stated that Trump "deserved it" for his unique commitment to freedom.
Political Strategy: Many analysts saw it as a bid to secure Trump's support for her to lead Venezuela’s transition government.
The Official Verdict: Can You Gift a Nobel?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee was quick to step in with a reality check. They issued a formal statement clarifying two main points:
Medals are personal property: A winner can give away, sell, or frame the physical gold medal as they wish.
The Title is "Inseparable": The Nobel Prize itself cannot be transferred. In the history books, Maria Corina Machado remains the 2025 laureate. Even though Trump now holds the physical medal in a gold frame in the White House, he is not officially a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Current Status: Trump has kept the medal, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect," while the Nobel Committee maintains that the honour remains with Machado.
Would you like me to find more details on the specific 2025 India-Pakistan ceasefire Trump mentioned, or perhaps a breakdown of the official Nobel rules on transferring awards?