Donald Trump has expressed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming to have negotiated peace in several global conflicts. Despite ongoing tensions, he believes he deserves the award for his efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war. His call to Jens Stoltenberg, former NATO chief, highlights his ambition, though the decision lies with the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Trump's Quest for the Nobel Peace Prize: A Call to Oslo
Trump's Quest for the Nobel Peace Prize: A Call to Oslo
On Friday, he might broker peace in Ukraine. Yet, Trump already desires the Nobel Peace Prize. "Out of nowhere, when Jens Stoltenberg was walking the streets of Oslo, Trump called. He wanted the Nobel Peace Prize," writes Dagens Næringsliv.
During his brief presidency, Trump claims to have negotiated peace in seven (!) wars.
India/Pakistan, Israel/Iran, Kosovo/Serbia, Democratic Republic of Congo/Rwanda, Cambodia/Thailand, Azerbaijan/Armenia, Egypt/Ethiopia are all conflicts he claims to have resolved—something experts question.
The crown jewel is the war between Russia and Ukraine. Even though it still rages, Trump believes he has already earned the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Completely unexpectedly, when Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down a street in Oslo, Donald Trump called," writes Norwegian Dagens Næringsliv, citing sources.
"He Wanted the Nobel Peace Prize"
The call reportedly focused on Trump's desire for the coveted prize.
"He wanted the Nobel Peace Prize—and to discuss tariffs," the newspaper reports.
The Nobel Peace Prize is not decided by Stoltenberg or the Norwegian government, but by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, consisting of five members selected by the Norwegian parliament, including former ministers, political scientists, and diplomats.
Trump reportedly called Stoltenberg, with whom he has a relationship from Stoltenberg's time as NATO chief, ahead of a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in July.
"I will not go into the details of the conversation," Stoltenberg told Reuters, adding that the call was about tariffs.
According to Dagens Næringsliv, several others, including Finance Minister Scott Bessent, were part of Trump's call.
"Extremely Jealous of Obama"
Several Trump-critical politicians have noted Trump's "obsession" with the Peace Prize. Trump-critical Republican Michael Steele writes that it stems from jealousy of Barack Obama, who won the prize in 2009.
"It's clear that Trump has been obsessed with Obama for more than 20 years. Obama gets the Nobel Peace Prize? Trump spends years obsessively trying to win it himself," he told MSNBC.
Trump's former national security advisor, Michael Bolton, shares this view.
"He saw Obama get the Nobel Peace Prize and felt that if Obama got it without doing anything, why shouldn't he get it?" he told the New York Times.