This year’s Nobel Peace Prize is generating anticipation and speculation as the Norwegian Nobel Committee prepares to announce the winner on Friday. One thing appears nearly certain: U.S. President Donald Trump will not receive the award, despite his repeated claims of having resolved multiple conflicts worldwide.
The decision comes amid a record-high number of armed conflicts globally in 2024, according to Sweden’s Uppsala University database, making the pursuit of peace an increasingly complex challenge.
Experts widely dismiss Trump’s “peacemaker” assertions as exaggerated. While he cites involvement in resolving conflicts from Gaza to Pakistan-India tensions, critics point to policies that contradict Nobel’s ideals of international cooperation, disarmament, and the promotion of global fraternity.
Trump’s actions, including withdrawing the U.S. from multilateral treaties, trade wars, military interventions, and restrictions on academic and press freedoms, further weaken his case.
The committee evaluates nominees comprehensively, considering both achievements and overall conduct. This year, 338 individuals and organizations have been nominated, with details kept secret for 50 years.
Possible contenders include Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, Yulia Navalnaya, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN agencies, international tribunals, and organizations defending press freedom. Analysts suggest the committee may favor a less controversial candidate, focusing on human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression.
Trump’s pursuit of the Nobel is fueled not only by a desire for prestige but also by a long-standing rivalry with former President Barack Obama, the 2009 laureate. He has repeatedly emphasized his role in ending wars, including between Israel and Hamas and other conflicts he claims to have influenced.
Despite public nominations by world leaders, including Netanyahu and Pakistan, and praise from various African officials, the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine make his candidacy unlikely.
Ultimately, while Trump continues to campaign for recognition as a global peacemaker, the Nobel Peace Prize is expected to reward achievements aligned with its foundational principles, favoring efforts that have demonstrably advanced peace, human rights, and international cooperation rather than self-promoted claims.
