Donald Trump appears to be obsessed with winning the Nobel Peace Prize - but why exactly does he want to get his hands on it?
Despite serving two terms as U.S. president, the prize has continued to elude him, even as he aggressively lobbies for recognition on the global stage.
Trump’s determination to secure the Nobel Prize is no secret. For years, he has positioned himself as a peacemaker deserving of international accolades, citing his efforts to broker peace deals and end global conflicts.
“Will You Get The Nobel Prize?” Trump Weighs In
During a speech in September before hundreds of top U.S. military officials, Trump appeared to acknowledge skepticism around his bid for the award - while making his frustrations crystal clear, per USA Today.
“Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing,” he said. But his message didn’t stop there.
“It’d be a big insult to our country, I will tell you that. I don’t want it, I want the country to get it. It should get it because there’s never been anything like it,” Trump added, revealing just how deeply he ties his own legacy to global recognition.
Trump Claims Credit for Ending “Seven Wars”
In recent weeks, as the Nobel Committee prepares its decision, Trump’s efforts to amplify his so-called peace credentials have ramped up significantly. At nearly every public appearance, he has boasted about his role in halting what he calls “seven wars.”
According to a list released by his administration, Trump claims to have played a part in resolving conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand; Kosovo and Serbia; the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda; Pakistan and India; Israel and Iran; Egypt and Ethiopia; and Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Yet many of these claims are either unverified, exaggerated, or misleading.
While Trump touted a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May, the true extent of his involvement remains murky. And despite his emphasis on diplomacy, he also ordered military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June - one of the very countries he claims to have brought peace to.
More problematic for Trump’s narrative is the ongoing violence in Gaza and Ukraine - two major conflicts he pledged to end early in his presidency. Both wars continue to rage, casting doubt over the effectiveness of his peacemaking efforts.
Israel, Pakistan, and African Leaders Back Trump’s Bid
Trump’s peace prize campaign has earned support from some international figures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated Trump for the Nobel, as has an Israeli advocacy group pushing for the release of hostages in Gaza, per BBC News.
Pakistan also put Trump’s name forward, and leaders from several African nations praised his diplomatic efforts during a recent visit.
The Obama Factor: A Decade-Long Rivalry
While Trump insists his Nobel campaign is about national pride, insiders and analysts suggest there’s another major motivation: Barack Obama.
Obama received the award just nine months into his presidency, a decision that sparked controversy and continues to irritate Trump to this day.
“If I were named Obama I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds,” Trump complained in October 2024, during the final days of the presidential race.
Only four U.S. presidents have ever won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson earned the honor while in office, while Jimmy Carter was recognized decades after his presidency for his post-presidential peace work. Obama’s win in 2009 remains one of the most talked-about in recent memory.
Trump is a man who claims to be the best at everything he does, so being a President without a Nobel Peace Prize is surely irritating him.