Washington D.C. [USA]: The White House criticised the Norwegian Nobel Committee after US President Donald Trump was not awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, calling the decision politically motivated.

Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Once again, the Nobel Committee has proved they place politics over peace. This omission reflects bias rather than a genuine commitment to global peace.”

Cheung added, “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”

Trump criticises Obama

Hours before the Nobel announcement, Trump lashed out at former President Barack Obama, claiming he received the Peace Prize for “doing nothing” and for “destroying our country.”

“He got it for doing nothing. Obama got a prize—he didn’t even know what—he got elected, and they gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country,” Trump said.

Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, eight months after taking office, for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

Trump’s claims and Peace Prize context

Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Trump has highlighted his administration’s role in brokering peace in Gaza and ending eight wars, insisting he is “driven by results, not recognition.” Reports also indicate that Trump sought to influence the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), which advises the Nobel Committee during the selection process.

Despite Trump’s claims, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Machado receives the award, worth 11 million Swedish kronor ($1.2 million), for promoting democracy amid rising authoritarianism. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony will be held in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

US presidents and the Nobel Peace Prize

So far, four US presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize:

  • Theodore Roosevelt (1906): Mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.
  • Woodrow Wilson (1919): Founding the League of Nations.
  • Jimmy Carter (2002): Recognised for human rights and peace work.
  • Barack Obama (2009): For diplomatic outreach and international cooperation.

Trump’s omission from the 2025 prize continues the debate over the criteria and political perceptions surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize.

Conclusion

The White House’s criticism underscores the ongoing tension between political figures and the Nobel Committee, highlighting questions over how the award balances achievement, recognition, and global perceptions of peace efforts.