“This is an indelible stain on Norway and on the people who made such a shameful and embarrassing decision,” he declared. The target of his ire was a name he claimed he had never heard of before the announcement: Navi Pillay.
The Nobel Committee announced that the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize would go to South African jurist and human-rights advocate Navi Pillay. The Committee honored Pillay for her work on peace and international law. Pillay, who learned of the award at a legal conference in Nuremberg, Germany, responded to the news with humor.
President Donald Trump played a historic role in advancing peace in South Asia. His timely intervention helped bring Pakistan and India back from the brink and secure a ceasefire, that is holding till today. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Pakistan had nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. We sincerely hope President’s efforts to promote peace and prevent conflict in our region receive due recognition this time. @realDonaldTrump @NobelPrize
Trump refused to let the announcement pass without a rebuttal. He added that he had “freed the hostages” and even “got Greenland.” In his view, those achievements should have secured the Nobel for the United States under his leadership. “The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t,” he insisted, framing the decision as a personal slight.
” The Committee, however, is an independent body, separate from the Norwegian government.
Trump’s criticism extended beyond the laureate to the institution that selected her. He accused Norway of hostility, calling the decision “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision” and suggesting that the Nobel had been “forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation.” The Committee, however, is an independent body, separate from the Norwegian government.
Trump calls Nobel Peace Prize decision ‘disgraceful’ https://t.co/UEcsqLDpkQ
While Trump’s remarks were scathing, Pillay’s response at a legal conference in Nuremberg was markedly different. Speaking to an audience, she joked, “If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump.”
Political analysts noted that Trump’s foreign policy stances had previously impacted his prospects for the honor. Despite his vocal disagreement with the committee, Trump concluded his remarks by saying, “I never heard of this particular person, but congratulations anyway.”
Trump calls Nobel Peace Prize pick ‘disgraceful’ https://t.co/g5hCStAnag https://t.co/WEb1IGbT0M