Nobel Institute responds to claims Machado could give Peace Prize to Trump

The organisation that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize has dismissed claims that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado could give her recent award to President Donald Trump.  The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Friday that once a Peace Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, transferred, or shared.

"The decision is final and stands for all time," it said. The statement comes after Ms Machado said she would like to give or share the prize with Mr Trump, who oversaw a US operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York. "I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe - the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people - certainly want to, to give it to him and share it with him," Ms Machado said in an interview on Monday.

"What he has done is historic. It's a huge step towards a democratic transition." Ms Machado dedicated the prize to Trump and to the people of Venezuela shortly after the award was announced.

Read more from Sky News:US 'stands ready to help' Iranian protesters, Trump saysVance thinks sexualised AI deepfakes 'entirely unacceptable' Mr Trump, who has openly sought the Nobel Peace Prize since returning to office, has long expressed interest in winning the honour himself. However, following Maduro's capture, Mr Trump has so far backed a different figure to lead Venezuela - acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro's vice president.

While Mr Trump has described Ms Machado as a "very nice woman," he has said she currently lacks sufficient support within Venezuela to govern. Mr Trump said Thursday that Ms Machado plans to visit next week and described the idea of a Peace Prize offering as a "great honour".

A representative for Ms Machado did not immediately respond to a request for comment..