What the White House Says About Trump Not Winning the Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. President Donald Trump has never hidden his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize. As recently as Thursday, he once again claimed that during his first and second terms, he helped end eight global conflicts, including the war in Gaza.

However, most of the conflicts Trump claims to have ended were resolved through temporary agreements, not permanent peace treaties. In some cases — such as the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran earlier this year — Trump’s role appears to have been somewhat clear. In other cases, his involvement is less evident.

Trump has also claimed credit for de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, but New Delhi did not acknowledge any significant role played by him. Many of the situations he referred to were tense diplomatic stand-offs rather than full-scale wars — for example, the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, where Trump achieved no clear success.

Trump further claimed credit for a major agreement between Serbia and Kosovo during his first term. However, many of the conditions of that deal were never implemented.

White House Reaction
Despite these claims, Trump was not selected for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, prompting a sharp reaction from his team. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the Nobel Committee in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“President Trump has a humanitarian heart. No one like him has ever come before — someone who can move mountains with sheer willpower.”

Cheung added: “The Nobel Committee has proven that it values politics over peace.”

Nobel Committee’s Response to Trump
When asked about Trump’s publicly expressed desire for the Peace Prize, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said that the committee bases its decisions solely on the work and intentions of Alfred Nobel.
Frydnes explained:
“Every year, we receive thousands of letters from people around the world telling us what they believe contributes to peace. The committee sits in a room surrounded by portraits of past laureates — a room filled with courage and integrity.”
He emphasized: “So, we make our decisions based solely on Alfred Nobel’s work and will.”