By Trendsetter Tribune 
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton says he was “always worried” Donald Trump would try to take Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize from the White House amid Trump’s obsession with the award.
Trump has publicly obsessed over his inability to secure a Nobel Peace Prize, even making inflated claims that he “ended wars” that merited the honour. In comments touched on in the interview, he suggested that he couldn’t imagine anyone more deserving of the prize than himself — remarks that drew media attention and skepticism.
Asked whether he would install Machado as the leader of Venezuela if she gave him her prize, Trump responded:
“Well, I have to speak to her … I can’t think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me.”
Bolton’s Startling Admission
Bolton, who is facing 18 charges related to mishandling classified information in a case brought by Trump’s Justice Department, told Burnett that Trump’s desire for the Nobel Peace Prize overshadowed his interest in Venezuela or other policy matters.
“Look, it’s always all about Trump,” Bolton said, according to multiple reports.
Bolton went on to highlight a symbolic prize already on display inside the White House:
“Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel medallion hangs on the wall of the Roosevelt Room … I’ve always worried Trump would grab that if he can’t get another one.”
Roosevelt received his Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for helping negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War via the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth.
Why Trump Can’t Legally Get Machado’s Prize
In late 2025, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
Machado later suggested she might like to give or share the award with Trump — a gesture Trump described as “a great honor.”
However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has reiterated that a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred after it has been awarded. Once a recipient is announced, that decision is final — meaning Machado cannot legally give the prize to Trump.
What This Says About Trump’s Priorities
Bolton’s comments paint a picture of a president who values symbolic recognition — like a Nobel Peace Prize — perhaps above strategic or diplomatic substance.
“He cares less about Venezuela than he does the prize,” Bolton said, suggesting that Trump’s fixation on the award has at times overshadowed policy considerations.
That interpretation aligns with other reporting indicating Trump has publicly campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize — even linking his record on ending wars to his perceived qualifications for the honour.
Who Is María Corina Machado?
Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was awarded the honour in Oslo for her efforts to promote democratic change in Venezuela.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute’s rules make clear that once awarded, a recipient cannot pass the prize on, despite Machado’s desire to salute Trump for U.S. actions that led to the fall of Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Her prize is widely seen as a statement on democratic resistance in Venezuela — not a diplomatic bargaining chip.
Analysis — What It All Means
Bolton’s anecdote struck a chord because it underscores two intertwined realities:
- Trump’s public fixation on individual accolades, particularly internationally prestigious awards.
- The unpredictable way personal desires can intersect with global diplomacy and symbolism.
Even beyond the immediate controversy, the discussion highlights how powerful historical symbols — like Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize — can become cultural and political touchstones in modern political discourse.
Whether Bolton’s fears were hyperbole or a tongue-in-cheek jab at Trump’s priorities, his comments have added a vivid subplot to the ongoing story of Trump’s global image and legacy.