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The recurring Trump remarks about deserving the Nobel Peace Prize

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You're probably here because of the Oct 2026 rerun. This is the 12th time since 2019 this story has run. The previous rerun was Jan 2026.

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Since 2019, Donald Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize or that the committee won't give it to him. He has said this at news conferences, campaign rallies, the 2025 UN General Assembly and on Truth Social, and has often compared himself with Barack Obama's 2009 prize. He has also promoted nominations made public by Norwegian and Swedish lawmakers in 2020 and by Israel's prime minister and Pakistan's government in 2025, though the Nobel Committee keeps nominations secret for 50 years and says a nomination is not an endorsement. In 2020, FactCheck.org reported that he had conflated being nominated with winning, and that he was wrong to say the media made Obama's 2009 nomination a big story. After he did not win in 2025 and 2026, he turned his complaints toward Norway, writing to its prime minister that "your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize" and telling an October 2026 rally that "Norway sucks." Norway's prime minister has said the prize is awarded by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government.

Sources: 1, 2

20162026

Oct 2026 – ongoing "Norway sucks."

At a campaign rally in Michigan on Oct. 25, 2026, Trump again complained about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He cited his claim that "I settled eight wars and I got two more coming." He said the 2026 prize "was gotten by a woman that nobody ever heard of." Newsweek identifies her as South African jurist Navi Pillay, whose award the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Oct. 9. Trump then said, "Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a shithouse country, actually." This follows his Oct. 9 Syracuse rally remark, where he called the winner "a mystery person" and the decision "an indelible stain" on Norway, and an Oct. 10 Truth Social post: "Yet, with all of that I, or the United States of America, did not get the Noble Peace Prize. WOW!"

  • Newsweek (pre–2013) article
    "I said, so I'm not in love with Norway," Trump continued Sunday. "Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a shithouse country, actually."
  • mediaite.com article
    "I'm not in love with Norway. Frankly, Norway sucks," Trump said.

Sources: Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source · mediaite.com needs a second source · Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source

Jan 2026 Trump's Nobel Peace Prize message to Norway's prime minister tied to Greenland

In a text message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, sent Jan. 18 and released Jan. 19, Trump complained that Norway "decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize." He named the achievement he credits himself with, "having stopped 8 Wars PLUS," and tied the complaint to his Greenland policy, writing that he no longer felt "an obligation to think purely of Peace." The White House confirmed the message was authentic. Støre answered that "the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government." A spokesperson for the Norwegian Nobel Institute told PolitiFact the committee is an independent body with no government influence over its decisions. At a Jan. 20 press conference, Trump repeated the idea that Norway controls the prize. PolitiFact called the claim that Norway "decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize" "inaccurate" and called the "stopped 8 Wars" claim "exaggerated."

  • Public Broadcasting Service article
    Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.
  • PolitiFact article
    Don’t let anyone tell you that Norway doesn’t control the shots, OK? It’s in Norway!

Sources: Public Broadcasting Service reliable · CNN reliable · NPR reliable · PolitiFact reliable

Jan 2026 Machado gives Trump her Nobel medal

On Fox News' "Hannity" (aired Jan. 8, 2026), Hannity asked Trump whether he would meet Machado and accept her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize if she offered it. Trump answered that it "would be a great honor" (USA Today). In a stance USA Today reported as following that interview, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said a Nobel Prize "can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others." After Machado gave him the medal at the White House on Jan. 15, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done" (Anadolu). Anadolu set this against the record, noting that "Trump had repeatedly suggested he deserved the honor" before the prize went to Machado.

  • Yahoo News article
    I understand she's coming in next week sometime and I look forward to saying hello to her and I've heard that she wants to do that. That would be a great honor,
  • aa.com.tr article
    She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!
  • Yahoo News article
    Nobel Prize can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others. Once the announcement has been made, the decision stands for all time.

Sources: Yahoo News reliable · aa.com.tr needs a second source

Oct 2025 Trump dismisses Obama's prize on the eve of the 2025 award, and the White House faults the committee after Machado wins

On October 9, 2025, hours before the 2025 laureate was announced, Trump spoke in the Oval Office. According to Newsweek, he criticized Barack Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, saying, "He got a prize for doing nothing," and claimed his own record was far stronger. He again took credit for ending eight global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas ceasefire confirmed that week. Newsweek also reports that Trump said he "didn't do it for that" but took credit for saving lives through his foreign policy. The conflicts he cited in 2025 include flare-ups between Israel and Iran, Thailand and Cambodia, and India and Pakistan. On October 10, the Norwegian Nobel Committee gave the prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights." White House spokesman Steven Cheung responded on X that "the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace." Asked whether Trump's public campaign for the prize affected the decision, committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes said the committee bases its decision "only" on "the work and the will of Alfred Nobel." Machado dedicated the prize partly to Trump. According to Lead Stories (republished by Yahoo), nominations for the 2025 prize closed on January 31, 2025, one week into Trump's current term, so the achievements he and his supporters cite came after that deadline. Newsweek likewise reports that many of the nominations made on his behalf came after the deadline.

  • Newsweek (pre–2013) article
    He got a prize for doing nothing.
  • timesofisrael.com article
    The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.
  • TheWrap article
    This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of old laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.

Sources: Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source · timesofisrael.com needs a second source · TheWrap reliable · Yahoo News reliable

Sep 2025 – Oct 2025 UN General Assembly speech and Quantico remarks

On Sept. 23, 2025, in his UN General Assembly speech in New York, Trump said he had "ended seven un-endable wars." He added: "Everyone says that I should get the Nobel peace prize for each of these achievements" (Newsweek). The seven conflicts he listed were Cambodia–Thailand, Kosovo–Serbia, DRC–Rwanda, Pakistan–India, Israel–Iran, Egypt–Ethiopia and Armenia–Azerbaijan (PolitiFact). PolitiFact rated the claim Mostly False and said the talking point "remains misleading." On Sept. 30, the day after he announced a peace plan for Gaza, Trump told military leaders at Quantico, Virginia, that the prize would go to "some guy that didn't do a damn thing" and that this would "be a big insult to our country" (official transcript; AFP via GMA). The 2025 prize was due to be announced on Oct. 10 (AFP via GMA).

  • Newsweek (pre–2013) article
    "Everyone says that I should get the Nobel peace prize for each of these achievements," the president added.
  • presidency.ucsb.edu statement
    "Will you get the Nobel Prize?" Absolutely not. They'll give it—[laughter]—they'll give it to some guy that didn't do a damn thing.
  • PolitiFact article
    "I have ended seven unendable wars," Trump said Sept. 23 in New York.
  • youtube.com video

Sources: PolitiFact reliable · Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source · gmanetwork.com needs a second source · presidency.ucsb.edu reliable

Aug 2025 – ongoing Reported Trump call to Norway's finance minister Jens Stoltenberg about the Nobel Prize

On August 14, 2025, Norway's business daily Dagens Næringsliv reported, citing unnamed sources, that when Trump called Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg in late July about trade tariffs, he also raised the Nobel Peace Prize. In a Reuters report, the paper was cited as saying this was not the first time Trump had brought up the prize with Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg said the call was about tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Trump's call with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Asked whether Trump made the prize an issue, he said he would "not go further into the content of the conversation." Reuters noted that Israel, Pakistan and Cambodia had nominated Trump and that he has said he deserves the prize. Reuters also reported that the White House, Norway's finance ministry and the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

  • globalnews.ca article
    He wanted the Nobel Prize – and to discuss tariffs.
  • business-standard.com article
    Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said the call took place in late July while Stoltenberg was in Oslo.

Sources: globalnews.ca needs a second source · business-standard.com needs a second source

Jul 2025 Netanyahu hands Trump a Nobel nomination letter

On July 7, 2025, Netanyahu stood up during the dinner and handed Trump a letter he said he had sent to the Nobel Committee nominating him. He said "It's well deserved, and you should get it." Trump replied, "Wow… Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful" (Times of Israel). Ynet reported that the letter cited the Abraham Accords and was sent to the committee on July 1, after the 2025 nominations had closed in January. It also reported that Netanyahu's office released the letter at the same time. Earlier that year Trump had said "They'll never give me the Nobel Peace Prize… I deserved it" (February), and in June he posted on Truth Social "I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize… no matter what I do" (both as quoted by Ynet and TIME).

  • timesofisrael.com article
    'Wow,' Trump says. 'Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful.'
  • Time article
    'Wow,' Trump responded, holding the paper Netanyahu presented him. 'Coming from you, in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much Bibi.'
  • c-span.org video Watch

Sources: ynetnews.com needs a second source · Fox News needs a second source

Jun 2025 Pakistan's nomination and "I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize"

Pakistan's government said it "has decided to formally recommend President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis". It credited Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio with "facilitating a ceasefire agreement on May 10". The same day, Trump cited the Congo–Rwanda deal on Truth Social, wrote that he wouldn't get the prize for it, and listed other conflicts he said he had stopped, such as "stopping the War between Serbia and Kosovo" and "keeping Peace between Egypt and Ethiopia." Al Jazeera reported that his list also included India and Pakistan and the so-called Abraham Accords. India disputes the US role it was being honored for: India says it was a bilateral agreement between the two militaries, and Modi told Trump that "India does not and will never accept mediation", according to the Indian government.

  • Newsweek (pre–2013) article
    No, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that's all that matters to me
  • tribune.com.pk article
    President Trump's leadership during the 2025 Pakistan–India crisis manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building.
  • Al Jazeera article
    There was no immediate response from Washington, DC, or New Delhi.

Sources: Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source · Al Jazeera reliable · tribune.com.pk needs a second source

Sep 2020 Trump promotes Nobel nominations during the 2020 campaign

On Sept. 9, 2020, Norwegian MP Christian Tybring-Gjedde said he had nominated Trump for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize over the Israel–UAE normalization deal. National lawmakers are allowed to nominate, but the Feb. 1 deadline for the 2020 prize had already passed. Two days later, Swedish lawmaker Magnus Jacobsson said he had made a nomination over the White House economic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. FactCheck.org reported that Jacobsson nominated Trump along with the two governments. FactCheck.org also reported that Trump retweeted about a dozen messages about the nomination, that a campaign TV ad said "President Trump, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize," and that he raised it at at least six rallies. At a Sept. 19 rally in Fayetteville, he said he had been nominated "not for one, but for two Nobel prizes," and at rallies he said the media had covered Obama's 2009 nomination far more. FactCheck.org found that claim about Obama's coverage was wrong.

  • factcheck.org article
    Can you believe it, in one week they nominated me, not for one, but for two Nobel prizes.
  • Snopes article
    They nominated your president, twice last week, on two different subjects, for a Nobel prize.
  • Al Jazeera article
    No matter how Trump acts at home and what he says at press conferences, he has absolutely a chance at getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sources: factcheck.org reliable · Snopes reliable · Al Jazeera reliable · 6abc.com needs a second source

Jan 2020 Toledo rally remark that he "saved a country" whose leader was getting the Nobel Peace Prize

At a political rally in Toledo, Ohio, on Jan. 9, 2020, Trump said, as quoted by VOA, "I made a deal, I saved a country, and I just heard that the head of that country is now getting the Nobel Peace Prize for saving the country. I said, 'what? Did I have something to do with it?'" The Week's version of the remarks goes on: "Yeah, but you know, that's the way it is." Trump did not name the country or the deal. VOA reported that he appeared to be referring to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose 2019 prize was announced in October. AP, in a story carried by Courthouse News, reported that Abiy accepted it in December. The Norwegian Nobel Committee's announcement says the prize went to Abiy "for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea." Which deal Trump meant comes from other people's readings of his words. VOA reported that observers believe he was referring to White House efforts to mediate talks among Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over water from the Nile and Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam. VOA said those talks were deadlocked. A senior official in Ethiopia's foreign ministry told AP, on condition of anonymity, that the remarks referred to preventing further tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over the dam. The official named only those two countries and did not describe American mediation. According to AP, the official said Egypt's president had lobbied Trump over the dam, which led to American involvement in the discussions. The Week's headline said Trump "laments he didn't get" the prize, and VOA wrote that he "implied he should have been given" it. In the remarks as quoted, he says he had something to do with it but does not say the prize was owed to him. At a press conference in South Africa on Jan. 12, Abiy said, "if President Trump complained, it must go to Oslo, not to Ethiopia." VOA reported that the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Twitter account said Abiy won the prize for peace efforts in the Horn of Africa, "not stalled negotiations about a new dam on the Nile."

  • theweek.com article
    "I'm going to tell you about the Nobel Peace Prize," President Trump said at his political rally in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday evening.
  • courthousenews.com article
    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accepted the prize in December for making peace with longtime rival Eritrea and other reforms.
  • Voice of America article
    "I made a deal, I saved a country, and I just heard that the head of that country is now getting the Nobel Peace Prize for saving the country.

Sources: theweek.com needs a second source · courthousenews.com needs a second source · Voice of America reliable · nobelprize.org needs a second source

Sep 2019 A Nobel Prize for a lot of things

On Sept 23, 2019, Trump met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He said he was "ready, willing and able" to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. A Pakistani journalist then told him that solving Kashmir would make him "deserving a Nobel Prize." Trump answered, "I think I'm going to get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they gave it out fairly, which they don't." He also referred to Barack Obama's 2009 prize, saying Obama "had no idea why he got it" (Washington Post).

  • The Washington Post article
    I think I'm going to get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they gave it out fairly, which they don't," Trump said.
  • The Washington Post article
    They gave one to Obama immediately after his ascent to the presidency, and he had no idea why he got it," Trump told reporters in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
  • Fox News article
    President Trump said he would get a Nobel Prize "for a lot of things" if the committee awarded prizes fairly.
  • youtube.com video
    I think I'm going to get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they gave it out fairly, which they don't.

Sources: The Washington Post reliable · Fox News needs a second source · Time reliable · seattletimes.com needs a second source

Feb 2019 Trump says Abe nominated him

On Feb 15, 2019, Trump argued at a news conference that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria, and said he would probably never get it. He said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had given him "the most beautiful copy" of a five-page letter nominating him for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea. He compared himself with Obama's 2009 prize. That makes the episode an example of three parts of the thread: complaining he hasn't won, comparing himself with Obama, and promoting a nomination made on his behalf.

  • globalnews.ca article
    They gave it to Obama. He didn't even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize.
  • cnbc.com article
    The U.S. government had sounded Abe out over the Nobel Peace Prize nomination after Trump's summit in June last year with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
  • NBC News article
    I'm not saying it's not true.
  • youtube.com video

Sources: globalnews.ca needs a second source · cnbc.com reliable · NBC News reliable · factcheck.org reliable

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