Nobel Committee Dismisses Pressure As Trump Touts Peace Deal Role

Donald Trump’s pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize appears to face a significant obstacle — the firm independence of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which has reiterated that its decisions cannot be swayed by external pressure or political campaigns.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has openly expressed his desire for the prestigious award, often comparing himself to former U.S. President Barack Obama, who received the prize in 2009, shortly after assuming office. The 79-year-old billionaire has repeatedly insisted he “deserves it,” claiming credit for ending six wars, even though conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine — which he has vowed to resolve — remain ongoing.

In an interview monitored by Ireporter Online, the committee’s secretary, Kristian Berg Harpviken, acknowledged the heavy media focus on certain candidates but emphasized that such attention carries no influence in the deliberation process. “The committee considers each nominee solely on merit,” he said. This year’s laureate will be announced on October 10.

Trump has cited endorsements from foreign leaders, including Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, as proof of his worthiness. Yet observers note that such support may be irrelevant, since nominations closed on January 31 — just eleven days after Trump returned to office.

“To be nominated is not necessarily a great achievement. The great achievement is to become a laureate,” Harpviken explained, stressing that thousands of individuals worldwide — from lawmakers to university professors — are eligible to submit nominations. This year’s list includes 338 individuals and organizations, though only the most credible candidates advance to a closely scrutinized shortlist.

Harpviken further noted that the committee is careful to shield its work from media-driven campaigns or political lobbying. He recalled past instances where the panel demonstrated its independence, such as awarding the 2010 Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo despite Norwegian government concerns that the decision would provoke Beijing — a move that ultimately froze diplomatic relations for years.

Reports indicate that Trump even raised the issue of the Peace Prize in a July phone call with Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the former NATO secretary general, during discussions on tariffs. While the finance ministry confirmed the call, it declined to say whether the Nobel Prize was discussed.

Experts in Oslo believe Trump’s approach may be counterproductive. “This type of pressure usually turns out to be counter-productive,” said Halvard Leira, research director at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, noting that awarding the prize to Trump now would be seen as compromising the committee’s independence.

In August, three Nobel historians went further, outlining reasons they believe Trump should not be honored, including his continued admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has waged war in Ukraine for three years. They argued bluntly that “the members of the Nobel Committee would have to have lost their minds” to consider him.

Despite Trump’s insistence, experts maintain that the committee remains committed to Alfred Nobel’s principles of peace and multilateralism — ideals many say stand at odds with Trump’s “America First” doctrine.