Trump Calls Nobel Peace Prize Decision 'Stain on Norway'

Former President Donald Trump has voiced strong criticism regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, stating the decision to award it this year was "disgraceful and embarrassing" and has left an "indelible stain on the country of Norway."

Speaking at a rally in Syracuse, New York, Trump said he had "never heard" of the recipient, Navi Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge. He described the committee's choice as made by "radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation," adding that the prize had been "forever discredited."

Trump has previously expressed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and has been critical of past recipients. In 2025, he made similar complaints when the prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Last year, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre explained to Trump that the Nobel committee operates independently of the Norwegian government.

Trump claimed at the rally that he had settled eight wars and was close to resolving two more, though he did not provide evidence for these assertions. He reiterated his belief that he deserved the prize for his efforts.

Navi Pillay, an 85-year-old South African and former UN human rights chief, was recognized "for her efforts to promote peace and international law," which the Nobel committee stated paved the way for a "more comprehensive global legal order." The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, noted that her work had been "instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted."

Upon hearing the news, Pillay, speaking from Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, reacted with surprise, saying "it must be a joke." She also humorously offered to share the prize with Trump if attendees clapped a little more.

In January, Machado presented her Nobel medal to Trump during a White House meeting, citing his commitment to her country's freedom. Trump described the gesture as a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect." The Nobel committee later clarified that Nobel Prizes are not transferable, stating that "once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others" and that "The decision is final and stands for all time."