The comedy segment stemmed from a high-profile visit earlier this week in which Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado—who did win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her democratic activism—presented her prize’s medal to Trump at the White House. Machado framed it as a gesture of gratitude for Trump’s support, but the Norwegian Nobel Committee has made clear the Peace Prize cannot be transferred or awarded retroactively.
Kimmel seized on the moment to poke fun at Trump’s obvious delight in holding the medal, joking that it looked like the president was “back in the Oval Office sucking on it like a pacifier.”
A Nobel Win He Didn’t Actually Get
Kimmel’s jokes underscored a widely reported fact: Trump is not an official Nobel laureate. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado in October for her efforts promoting democracy and peaceful political change in Venezuela. While she gift-ed her medal to Trump this week, Nobel rules mean the title of laureate remains solely hers.
The late-night host highlighted the absurdity of the situation, saying that the only reason Trump seemed motivated by the prize was simply because it was handed to him—literally.
Kimmel also mocked the small token Trump reportedly gave Machado in return—a Make America Great Again mug—suggesting the contrast was both hilarious and telling about the president’s priorities.
Real Trophies for Real Change?
The comedian didn’t stop at mockery. He used his platform to call attention to Trump’s controversial immigration enforcement, including the deployment of ICE agents in cities like Minneapolis. Kimmel quipped that handing Trump trophies might be “the only way to get him to do anything,” and offered to personally deliver some of his own real and fake awards—including an Emmy—to the Oval Office if Trump agreed to pull ICE out of Minneapolis and refocus on the U.S. border.
Among the trophies Kimmel joked he’d trade were awards he’s actually won, as well as humorous ones, such as a faux “Soul Train Award for White Person of the Year.”
A Wider Conversation
The segment adds to a growing public conversation about Trump’s eagerness for global recognition and the symbolism of awards in politics. Critics of the prize presentation argue that such gestures could dilute the integrity of international honors like the Nobel Peace Prize, while supporters say they signal diplomatic goodwill.
For his part, Trump shared photos of the medal online, calling Machado’s gesture “a wonderful honour” and reaffirming his support for Venezuelan freedom.
Whether comedy or controversy, Kimmel’s take has sparked discussion about how political leaders use—or misuse—prestigious symbols and what that says about leadership in an increasingly media-driven world.
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