As the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement approaches, US President Donald Trump has actively campaigned for the award, claiming credit for ending six to seven conflicts worldwide, including one between India and Pakistan. Trump has consistently highlighted his personal diplomacy, US mediation, and, at times, threats of tariffs or military action as key factors behind these resolutions. He has also leveraged endorsements from foreign leaders, including Pakistani and Israeli officials, to bolster his case.
However, the primary reason Trump is ineligible this year is procedural: nominations closed on January 31, 2025, shortly after he assumed office, making him too late for consideration. The Nobel Committee, selected by Norway’s Parliament, keeps nominations and deliberations secret for 50 years, and the awards will be formally announced on December 10 in Oslo.
While Trump frames himself as a global peacemaker, only a few of the conflicts he cites—such as Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, Armenia-Azerbaijan, and Rwanda-Congo—actually involved armed combat. Other disputes, like the Egypt-Ethiopia Nile River dam issue and Serbia-Kosovo tensions, did not escalate to war. Historically, the Nobel Peace Prize has recognized US presidents like Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, though Obama’s award in 2009, given just months into his term, remains controversial.
Trump’s image as a peacemaker has been a cornerstone of his second-term campaign, with emphasis on ending ongoing conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas. Yet, both conflicts continue, and previous peace efforts, such as the failed Alaska summit with Putin, have not materialized. His latest focus is the Israel-Hamas conflict, with claims that the first phase of a peace plan has been agreed upon and all hostages will be released soon.
Despite his assertive public campaign and self-promotion, the Nobel Committee’s rules and the actual outcomes of global conflicts make Trump’s chances for the 2025 prize effectively nonexistent. Nevertheless, Trump’s pursuit of the award is likely to continue, potentially positioning him as a contender for the 2026 Peace Prize.
