On October 10th, local time, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was announced. María Corina Machado of Venezuela was awarded the prize, while US President Trump missed out. Due to extensive hype, this year's Nobel Peace Prize was hailed as the most-watched award by European media, with nearly 100 media outlets, including the BBC and The Guardian, broadcasting the event live.
Trump has coveted the Nobel Prize since his first term.
"Even if Mr. Trump hasn't circled October 10th on his calendar, he's circled it in his mind—and it's well known he's been lobbying for it for years." With 24 hours left before the Nobel Prize announcement, Eric Green, a renowned White House reporter for the New York Times, sent back an analysis from Washington, D.C., titled "Trump Is Eyeing the Nobel Peace Prize. Can He Win It?" The article cleverly points out that Trump "made outstanding contributions" to the Gaza ceasefire 48 hours before the Nobel Prize was awarded, and he also stated that he would "try to travel to Egypt to attend the signing ceremony of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement."
According to Eric Green, Trump was eager to win the Nobel Peace Prize as early as his first term, lobbying for it then, and this desire continued into his second term. "So he bitterly complained that President Obama won the prize less than nine months after taking office."
Trump's Nobel Prize Desire
In July of this year, reports indicated that Trump called Norwegian Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to inquire about the Nobel Peace Prize. The initial purpose of the call was to discuss tariffs between the United States and Norway. On the 8th of this month, a reporter asked Trump if he believed he would win the Nobel Peace Prize.
He replied, "We've resolved seven wars, and we're close to resolving the eighth. And I think we'll eventually resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. I don't think anyone in history has resolved so many wars, but maybe they'll find a reason not to give it to me."
The Nobel Prize is attracting much attention.
Multiple public opinion campaigns are urging Trump to win the prize.
In July of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, during a meeting with US President Trump at the White House, submitted a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying that Trump "is personally building peace and deserves the prize."
In September of this year, French President Emmanuel Macron stated in New York that if US President Trump truly wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he should push for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Perhaps Macron's suggestion was so compelling that Trump brokered a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip at the last minute.
Just after the second anniversary of the current round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US President Trump took the lead in a social media post on October 8th, Eastern Time, announcing that both sides had signed the first phase of his proposed "20-point plan," arguing that all detainees would be released soon and Israeli troops would withdraw to the mutually agreed-upon border. He himself may travel to the Middle East on October 12th.
With only 48 hours left until the Nobel Peace Prize announcement, the Financial Times, citing European officials, reported that Trump was pressing for an agreement between Israel and Hamas by Friday to influence the outcome. Trump also pressured the Norwegian government, while the Norwegian Foreign Minister emphasized the Nobel Committee's independence from the government.
The Peace Prize was "confirmed" on Monday (October 6th), with Trump having no chance of winning this year.
European media outlets, including The Guardian and DW, noted that Trump's well-known desire for the Nobel Peace Prize attracted significant attention this year, with nearly 100 media outlets, including the BBC, attending the event to broadcast the awards live. According to European media reports, Norwegian politicians are also nervous, fearing the potential impact on US-Norway relations if the Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded to Trump.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified on Thursday that it had made its final decision on the 2025 Peace Prize winner on Monday, October 6, just days before the US President announced the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Given the timeframe and composition of the five-member independent committee, most Nobel experts and Norwegian observers believe Trump is unlikely to win the prize.
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, recently hinted to local media that Trump has no chance of winning the prize, at least this year.
Four US presidents, including Obama, have won the prize.
CNN reported on the 10th that according to a recent poll, only 22% of Americans believe Trump should receive the Peace Prize. According to the Nobel Prize website, there are 338 nominees for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. It's important to note that the deadline for nominations for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is January 31st, just over ten days after the start of Trump's second term. To date, four US presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize:
- Theodore Roosevelt (1906)
- Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1919)
- Jimmy Carter (2002)
- Barack Obama (2009)
