President Donald Trump has once again been thrust into the global spotlight with a nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, this time by Pakistani government, criticizing his role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan during a 2025 crisis. The nominations, announced on june 21, 2025, has sparked a wave of reactions, ranging from praise to skepticism, as trump’s pursuit of the prestigious award continues to be a polarizing topic.
Pakistan’s Nomination and Trump’s claims
Pakistan government formally nominated Trump, lauding his “decisive diplomatic engagement and pivotal leadership” in preventing a potential full scale war between the two nuclear armed nations. According to a statement posted on Pakistan’s verified government account, Trump’s “back-channel diplomacy” was instrumental in securing a ceasefire during the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, which Pakistan claims was triggered by “unprovoked and unlawful Indian aggression” that violated its sovereignty and caused civilian casualties. The statement further praised trump’s repeated offers to mediate the Kashmir dispute, calling it a “sincere commitment to durable peace in South Asia.”
Trump himself has claimed credit for averting a war between India and Pakistan, stating, “I stopped a war between India and Pakistan, and I stopped it with trade…. They were getting ready.” He also announced a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rawanda, brokered during three days of negotiations in Washington, as another feature in his diplomatic cap. However, trump expressed frustration, saying “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between India and Pakistan… no matter what I do but the people know and that’s all that matters to me!”
A History of Nominations
This is not the first time Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He has been put forward multiple times, including in 2020 by Norwegian politician Christian Tybring-Gjedde for his role in the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other nations. In 2021, Swedish MP Magnus Jacobsson and Finnish MEP Laura Huhtasaari nominated him for similar efforts, and in 2024, New York Representative Claudia Tenney cited his “instrumental” role in the Abraham Accords. Most recently, in March 2025, California Congressman Darrell Issa nominated Trump, pointing to his broader influence in fostering diplomacy and reducing conflict, particularly in the Middle East.
Despite these nominations, Trump has never won the award, a fact that has fueled his public grievances. During a 2025 Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump lamented, “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.” He has repeatedly contrasted his efforts with former President Barack Obama’s 2009 win, which Trump has mocked as undeserved, noting that Obama received the award less than nine months into his presidency.
Support and Criticism
Trump’s administration has actively championed his candidacy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Representative Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for UN ambassador, have all publicly endorsed his bid, with Waltz declaring, “By the end of this all, we’re going to have the Nobel Prize sitting next to the name of Donald J. Trump.” Supporters argue that Trump’s foreign policy, including the Abraham Accords and his efforts to broker peace in regions like Ukraine and Gaza, demonstrates his commitment to global stability.
However, critics remain unconvinced. Some point to Trump’s strained relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, particularly after a contentious February 2025 Oval Office meeting where Trump was accused of browbeating Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough for U.S. support. Norwegian politician Christian Tybring-Gjedde, who nominated Trump in 2020, expressed doubts about a third nomination, citing Trump’s approach to Ukraine as dictating terms that alarm European allies. Others, including legal scholar Mona Ali Khalil, argue that Trump’s policies, such as his support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and his stance on refugees, disqualify him from consideration, citing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
Betting Odds and Public Sentiment
Despite the controversy, Trump has emerged as a frontrunner in betting markets. According to Oddschecker, as of May 2025, Trump had +650 odds (13.3% implied probability) of winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with 97% of bets placed backing him. Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction platform, gave him an 8% chance as of May 16, 2025. The high betting volume reflects Trump’s household name recognition, though some analysts caution that betting markets do not necessarily reflect the Nobel Committee’s deliberations.
On X, reactions are mixed. Some users celebrated the nomination, with one Pakistani user hailing Trump’s “strategic moves” against India, while others mocked the idea, with one post joking that Trump had already “accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in the mirror, thanking himself for being incredible.”
What’s Next?
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 will be announced on October 10, with the ceremony held on December 10 in Oslo, Norway. However, Pakistan’s nomination is likely for the 2026 prize, as the deadline for 2025 nominations was January 31. The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not publicly confirm nominees, and the process remains secretive for 50 years. Trump’s chances may hinge on tangible outcomes in ongoing conflicts, such as Ukraine and Gaza, where his administration’s efforts have yet to yield lasting resolutions.
As Trump continues to position himself as a global peacemaker, the debate over his Nobel candidacy underscores a broader divide over his foreign policy legacy. Whether he can translate nominations into a win remains uncertain, but for now, the pursuit of the prize remains a central obsession for the 47th U.S. President.
