Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Trump hopes to win… A quick take on what history tells us

The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 winner will be announced on Friday, October 10, in Oslo, Norway. Among the names floated in speculation is US President Donald Trump, who has time and again voiced his wish to be recognised as a peacemaker. Despite his confidence, the odds remain stacked against him.

Why Trump believes he ‘deserves’ the prize

Since his first term in the White House, Trump has repeatedly asserted that he should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The American president at the UN General Assembly last month even declared, “No president or prime minister has ever done anything close to that. Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements.”

Trump has repeatedly claimed of “ending seven wars” since taking office in 2017, reportedly between Israel and Iran, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Thailand and Cambodia, India and Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.

And recently he has also teased the possibility of ending an eighth war if Israel and Hamas agree to his peace plan aimed at concluding the two-year war in Gaza. While addressing military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in September, he stated, “Nobody’s ever done that. Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing. We’ll see what happens, but it would be a big insult to our country. I will tell you that. I don’t want it. I want the country to get it,” as foreign media reported.

Also Read: One peace deal or ceasefire a month? 7 times White House echoed Trump’s Nobel Prize ambitions

What are Nobel Prizes?

Six Nobel Prizes are awarded annually for groundbreaking contributions in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economic science, and peace. The Peace Prize garners particular attention due to the fame of its nominees. This year, the Nobel Committee received 338 nominations for the Peace Prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organisations. Previous recipients include Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai (2014), Barack Obama (2009), Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk (1993), the 14th Dalai Lama (1989), and Mother Teresa (1979).

The nomination and selection process

The Nobel Peace Prize nominations are handled with strict secrecy. Each year, selected experts, past laureates, and academics are invited to submit nominations by January 31. Nominations are not made public, and committee members are supposed to keep them secret for 50 years. Candidates cannot nominate themselves, though they can be nominated multiple times.

After the deadline, the committee reviews hundreds of submissions, consulting specialists and narrowing the list to a few candidates. The Peace Prize often recognises work from the past year, responding to current global events.

Also Read: ‘He’s forging peace as we speak’: Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize after Iran strikes

What do laureates receive?

Winners are awarded a diploma, a medal, and a financial prize, which in 2025 amounts to 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1.17 million).

5 reasons why Trump’s chances remain low

1. Short-term deals vs. long-term peace: The committee usually honours those who make long-term efforts in peace-building. Whereas Trump’s attempts, however, have failed to produce lasting results, and many conflicts resumed after his temporary ceasefires.

2. America first policies: Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which involved leaving treaties and out and loud criticism of global organisations, often went against the values of the Nobel Prize, showcasing little cooperation with the world.

3. Climate change denial: While past laureates have included climate advocates, Trump has dismissed climate change, even emphasising during his recent UNGA speech, “This ‘climate change,’ it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” which is quite contradictory to what many view as a critical component of global peace.

4. Divisive leadership: From trade disputes to warning allies, Trump’s tough approach is very different from the peace-making image of past winners.

5. Controversial nominations: Although he has been nominated multiple times, including by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US politicians, some nominations arrived after the 2025 deadline. Others, such as from a Ukrainian politician, were later withdrawn.

How Nobel Peace Prize is chosen

The Nobel nomination process is tightly guarded. Tens of thousands of people such as lawmakers, academics, former laureates, and committee members are eligible to nominate candidates by January 31 each year. Nominations remain secret for 50 years, and nominees cannot propose themselves.

The committee of five members, appointed by Norway’s parliament, reviews hundreds of entries. This year, 338 individuals and organisations are in the running, including 244 individuals and 94 organisations.

History sheds focus on sustained peace

According to Nobel observers, Trump’s chances remain remote despite high-profile nominations and foreign policy claims. The Norwegian Nobel Committee traditionally prioritises durable peace, multilateral cooperation, and the work of institutions that advance these goals. Critics point out that Trump’s “America First” stance and skepticism toward global climate initiatives may weaken his case.

The Peace Prize has historically gone to those who advance human rights, promote disarmament, mediate conflicts, or strengthen democracy. In recent years, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov (2021) were honoured for safeguarding freedom of expression, while the World Food Programme (2020) was recognised for its fight against hunger and conflict.

In 2024, the prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations, for its decades-long work toward a nuclear-free world and for amplifying the testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

Notable past laureates include:

Barack Obama (2009): “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”

Mother Teresa (1979): “for her work for bringing help to suffering humanity”

Martin Luther King Jr. (1964): “for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population”

Nelson Mandela, F W de Klerk (1993): “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”

Who has nominated Trump?

This year, nominations for Trump came from multiple sources, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the governments of Pakistan and Cambodia, and US politician Buddy Carter. A senior Ukrainian politician initially nominated him but later withdrew the suggestion, citing concerns over his handling of Russia.