Donald Trump and His Obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has one obsession that has yet to be fulfilled: to achieve the Nobel Peace Prize. It's no wonder that he repeatedly seeks to become a peacemaker among conflicting parties. However, unfortunately, he has failed repeatedly.

This year, Trump has been nominated to receive the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize due to his role in mediating the ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The nomination was submitted by Republican Party Congress member, Buddy Carter, who praised Trump for playing an "extraordinary and historic role" in quickly halting the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East, as reported by NDTV.

In his letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Carter stressed that Trump's influence was crucial in achieving a rapid agreement that was considered impossible by many, praising his bravery and clarity in preventing what could have escalated into a full-scale regional war.

The announcement of the ceasefire came shortly after Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, an action in support of Israel's operation. Trump referred to this conflict as the "12-Day War" and stated that the ceasefire marked a turning point to avoid a broader regional war. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain fragile, with ongoing accusations of violations and lingering distrust among the involved parties.

This is not the first time Trump has been nominated. Previously, a Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksandr Merezhko, had put forward Trump's name for the Nobel Prize. However, he withdrew his support due to disappointment as Trump did not fulfill his promise to end the war in Ukraine. He criticized Trump for avoiding the need to impose sanctions on Russia and for not responding to Russia's missile attack in Kyiv.

The Pakistani government also supported Trump's nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his diplomatic intervention in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. However, this support was soon opposed after the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, with Pakistan condemning the attack and calling for dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable solution to the regional crisis.

Despite being nominated several times during his tenure, including by Norwegian and Swedish politicians and for brokering the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab countries, Trump has never won.

Why is Trump Obsessed with the Nobel Peace Prize?

Trump has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize and openly regrets not receiving the award despite his various diplomatic efforts, including the 2020 Abraham Accords and efforts to mediate conflicts between India-Pakistan and Serbia-Kosovo. He has claimed that the award is biased against liberals and has expressed frustration for not being recognized for his peace initiatives.

Trump has long been fixated on the authority of the presidency, resolving issues with his adversaries, and most importantly, winning the Nobel Peace Prize-a prize that continually eludes him, as reported by Axios.

Finance Minister Scott Bessent openly stated on Fox News that Trump deserves the Nobel for his efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, asserting that if the award were given fairly, Trump should receive it within a year. Similarly, New York Representative Elise Stefanik, who was nominated by Trump to be the U.S. ambassador to the UN, urged Trump to win the Nobel in her speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Interior Minister Doug Burgum and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also voiced the same sentiment, and Waltz confidently predicted that the Nobel Prize would eventually be associated with Trump's name.

Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has pursued peace in several conflicts. He has made strong efforts to reconcile Ukraine and Russia. He has also prompted Israel to ceasefire with Hamas, albeit for only two months. He also cooled the conflict between India and Pakistan, who had been attacking each other. Now, he is mediating the conflict between Iran and Israel.

However, all of Trump's efforts crumbled because he was not fully committed to the peace efforts he undertook. When Israel violated the ceasefire and resumed bombing Gaza, he instead defended Israel. To date, he has yet to succeed in reconciling Russia and Ukraine. The latest, the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, remains fragile as Israel has threatened to strike Iran again. Following Israel's statement, Trump also issued a threat to attack Iran again.

Why Do Critics Believe Trump is Unworthy of the Nobel?

Critics argue that Donald Trump should not receive the Nobel Peace Prize for several main reasons, as reported by PassBlue and The Daily Beast:

• His peace efforts are deemed inadequate or superficial, with some stating that the prize should not be awarded merely for holding meetings or negotiations without substantial and enduring peace achievements.
• Trump's record includes significant controversies and legal issues, such as criminal charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election and other alleged crimes, which, according to critics, undermine his eligibility for the peace prize.
• His policies and rhetoric are criticized for undermining international law and peace, including support for Israel's actions against Palestine, which some view as war crimes, and ambition to replace Israel's occupation with U.S. military presence in Gaza, conflicting with principles of peace and justice.
• Critics highlight his disregard for the UN Charter and international law, stating that his actions often contradict the spirit of the Nobel Peace Prize, which honors sovereignty, self-determination, and refugee rights.

Is Trump Confident He Will Receive the Nobel?

Trump's longing to receive the Nobel award is deeply rooted. However, he doubts the Norwegian committee's willingness to award it to him. He has criticized the committee for previously awarding it to Barack Obama early in his presidency, stating that the decision was unfair.

Nevertheless, his focus on the Nobel remains strong. In a recent meeting in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when asked if he hoped to receive the prize for helping to end the Gaza conflict, Trump affirmed that he deserves it but doubts that he will receive it.

When asked by a reporter whether he hoped to receive the Nobel Peace Prize if he helped end the war in Gaza, Trump replied, "I deserve it," as quoted by Axios, "But they'll never give it to me."

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