Trump Says He'll Accept a Second-Hand Peace Prize

President Trump says he's expecting a high-profile visitor from Venezuela—and possibly a Nobel medal. In a Fox News interview that aired Thursday night, Trump told Sean Hannity that opposition figure María Corina Machado is "coming in next week sometime" to the US and that he looks forward to meeting her. Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year, earlier this week told Hannity that Venezuela wants to "give it to (Trump) and share it with him" because of his ouster of Nicolas Maduro. Asked by Hannity whether he would accept her Nobel if she offered it to him, Trump replied, "I've heard that she wants to do that. That'd be a great honor."

While Machado is free to do what she likes with her medal and prize money, she can't make Trump a Nobel laureate. "A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked nor transferred to others. Once the laureate or laureates are announced, the decision is final," said Norwegian Nobel Institute Erik Aasheim, per the Latin Times. A spokesperson for Machado did not confirm the trip, and the White House has yet to release details. Several Republicans on Capitol Hill have been urging Washington to back Machado as Venezuela's next leader. Trump, however, has publicly questioned whether she's the right person to run the country, telling reporters last week it would be "very tough" for her to take charge because she lacks sufficient backing and respect at home.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a similar tone Sunday, calling Machado "fantastic" but arguing that the current turmoil requires other leadership, saying much of the opposition is now outside Venezuela and immediate problems must be handled first. Trump told Hannity that the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former second-in-command, had been "great." Early Friday, he said he had called off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela.

Trump has openly sought the peace prize in the past and has pressed his case in public. In a recent NBC News interview, he denied a Washington Post report claiming he passed over Machado for national leadership after Maduro's ouster because of her Nobel win. "She should not have won it," Trump said. "But no, that has nothing to do with my decision."