US President Donald Trump has criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to South African human rights champion Navi Pillay, describing the choice as “disgraceful” and claiming it left an “indelible stain” on Norway.
Trump made the remarks on Friday during a rally in Syracuse, New York, where he expressed disappointment that he had not received the prestigious award, despite his repeated public campaign for the honour.
Pillay, a renowned human rights lawyer and former international judge, was recognised for her work against war crimes and crimes against humanity. Her selection drew a sharp reaction from Trump, who said he had never heard of the laureate before the announcement.
“I never heard of this particular person, but congratulations anyway,” Trump told his supporters.
He insisted that the award should have gone to him, arguing that his presidency and the United States deserved recognition instead.
“The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t,” he said.
Trump subsequently described the committee’s decision as “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision” and accused Norway of damaging the reputation of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump Accuses Nobel Committee of Discrediting Peace Prize
The US president continued his criticism by arguing that the award had lost credibility because of what he described as ideological bias among those responsible for selecting the winner.
“The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation,” Trump said.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting himself as a leader deserving international recognition for his diplomatic efforts.
However, his foreign policy positions have attracted criticism from observers and experts in Oslo. Before Pillay’s selection was announced, experts cited concerns over Trump’s war against Iran, his territorial ambitions regarding Greenland, his hard-line immigration policies, and his criticism of multilateral institutions and the media.
These issues have contributed to the wider debate over whether Trump’s policies align with the ideals traditionally associated with the Nobel Peace Prize.
Who Is Navi Pillay, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate?
Navi Pillay is a South African human rights champion whose career has focused on international justice, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights.
Her recognition for work against war crimes and crimes against humanity highlights the importance of efforts to hold perpetrators of serious international crimes accountable.
Following the announcement, Pillay appeared to respond humorously to Trump’s repeated interest in the prize. Addressing a crowd celebrating her achievement, she joked that she might share the honour with the US president if the audience applauded enthusiastically enough.
“If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump,” Pillay said.
Her remark appeared to reference Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in the previous year and subsequently gave her Nobel gold medal to Trump.
The episode has added another dimension to the debate surrounding Trump’s pursuit of the award and the symbolic significance of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel Peace Prize Comes With $1.2 Million Award
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious international honours. The award includes a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize of $1.2 million.
For Trump, the latest announcement represents another public setback in his efforts to secure the recognition. His reaction has also renewed discussion about the Nobel Committee’s independence, the criteria for selecting laureates and the relationship between international diplomacy and political ambition.
While Trump maintains that he deserved the honour, Pillay’s selection recognises her contributions to human rights and the fight against serious international crimes.
The contrasting positions have placed the Nobel Peace Prize at the centre of a fresh political controversy, with Trump’s remarks drawing attention to the competing interpretations of peace, justice and international leadership.