Why Donald Trump Didn’t Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize
Mahbubur Rahman :
When former US President Donald Trump claimed in early 2025 that he “deserved the Nobel Peace Prize,” the announcement sparked a mix of amusement and debate.
Trump argued that his “historic diplomacy” in the Middle East, North Korea, and elsewhere merited the world’s highest recognition for peace.
Yet when the Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, it was clear that moral courage, not power or publicity, defines the laureates of this prestigious award.
The Nobel Peace Prize has always celebrated more than the absence of war. From Martin Luther King Jr. to Malala Yousafzai, from Nelson Mandela to Mother Teresa, laureates have embodied moral courage, human dignity, and principled action.
In contrast, Trump’s version of peace has been transactional and often performative.
His tenure may have produced high-profile agreements, yet these gestures were rooted in national interest rather than universal principles of justice and empathy.
The Committee’s decision to bypass Trump reaffirmed the principle that peace is earned through integrity, not self-promotion.
Trump’s claim overlooked a crucial aspect of the Nobel Peace Prize. Alfred Nobel’s will state that it should honor the person “who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Peace, in this sense, is moral and enduring, not momentary or mediated by power.
While Trump’s diplomacy, including the Abraham Accords and summits with North Korea, grabbed global headlines, it lacked the long-term impact and ethical foundation required by the Nobel ethos.
The Abraham Accords, though historic, primarily served geopolitical interests and did not address the core issues of regional conflict, leaving the Palestinian question unresolved.
Likewise, the North Korea summits ended with ceremonial handshakes rather than meaningful disarmament.
Domestically, Trump’s record further undermined his claim. The Nobel Peace Prize honors those who foster unity, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Trump’s rhetoric and actions during his presidency often deepened polarization within the United States, culminating in the violent events of January 6, 2021.
Leadership that fuels conflict at home cannot credibly be presented as a model of global peace.
His “America First” approach weakened multilateral institutions, withdrew the U.S. from key international agreements, and often prioritized short-term political gain over long-term harmony. Peace, by contrast, is inclusive, cooperative, and principled.
In sharp contrast, Maria Corina Machado’s journey embodies the essence of the Nobel Peace Prize.
An opposition leader in Venezuela, she has faced arrest, harassment, and political exile for advocating democratic reform. Machado’s struggle is principled, not privileged.
She commands no armies, wields no state power, and owns no media empire; she possesses only courage, resilience, and a commitment to justice.
By awarding her the prize, the Nobel Committee underscored that peace is not about who wields power, but who confronts it with moral clarity.
Her recognition reminds the world that standing against oppression, even at great personal risk, is the truest form of peacemaking.
Trump’s self-assertion as a Nobel candidate reflects a common misunderstanding: peace is not a transaction or an accolade to be claimed. It is a sustained moral endeavor, built on empathy, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.
The Committee’s decision emphasized that global leadership requires more than theatrics or short-term deals; it demands integrity, vision, and accountability.
This contrast between Trump and Machado also carries lessons for countries like Bangladesh. Democracy is fragile, and leadership must be rooted in principle rather than personality.
Populism and performative politics may capture headlines, but true influence stems from moral authority and a commitment to collective well-being.
Leaders and citizens alike should recognize that peace cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear, division, or self-interest.
Machado’s Nobel exemplifies how courage and conscience, even without formal power, can shape the future of nations.
Symbolically, Trump represents dominance and spectacle, while Machado embodies defiance and moral responsibility. His peace is negotiated; hers is necessary.
His influence relies on authority; hers rests on conviction. The Committee’s choice affirmed that the essence of peace lies not in political maneuvering but in steadfast dedication to justice and human rights.
Ultimately, Trump did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, not because of malice, but because he misinterpreted its meaning.
Peace is not the absence of conflict enforced by power, nor a medal for self-promotion; it is the active pursuit of justice, freedom, and dignity against all odds.
Machado’s prize celebrates those who endure, inspire, and transform through courage rather than coercion.
It is a reminder to the world that moral leadership, not theatrical diplomacy, is the true currency of peace.
As global observers reflect on this episode, the lesson is clear: the Nobel Peace Prize is a benchmark for conscience, not charisma.
In a world increasingly influenced by spectacle and populism, the Committee’s choice reaffirms that genuine peace requires integrity, persistence, and the willingness to stand alone against oppression.
For leaders everywhere, including in South Asia, it is a call to pursue not temporary victories, but enduring justice.
Maria Corina Machado’s triumph is more than Venezuela’s; humanity affirms that moral clarity matters, even when political power is unequal. Donald Trump’s claim, by contrast, serves as a cautionary tale: peace cannot be demanded, performed, or proclaimed.
It must be lived, embodied, and defended. In honoring Machado, the Nobel Committee reminded the world that courage, principle, and conscience remain the most powerful forces in shaping global peace.
(The writer is a PhD Researcher at the University of Rajshahi, Lecturer of Rajshahi Cantonment Public School & College. Email: [email protected])