Can One Bomb Iran and Still Win a Nobel Peace Prize?

A French media outlet, in a commentary, posed the question: “Can one bomb Iran and still win the Nobel Peace Prize?” referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent and excessive eagerness to receive the prestigious award. “Trump seems to think so,” the commentary added.

Donald Trump’s interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize stems from a combination of his overwhelming desire for international recognition, a decade-long rivalry with former President Barack Obama, and a touch of mischief.

Trump claims that during only a few months of his return to the White House, he has ended several conflicts.

Caroline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters on July 31 that “it’s already late to award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize.” She claimed that since returning to power on January 20, the U.S. President has, on average, mediated one peace or ceasefire agreement every month.

These remarks sparked incredulous and sarcastic reactions among opponents of the Republican leader.

The White House spokesperson even cited Iran—where Trump ordered the aggressive U.S. strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities—as evidence of decisions he claims have contributed to global peace.

However, she made no mention of the war in Ukraine—which Trump has repeatedly promised to end on the “first day” of his presidency—nor the ongoing war in Gaza, which the United States continues to fuel by supplying weapons to Israel.

A Prize Not Meant for Those Who Disrupt World Order

According to Agence France-Presse, for some foreign leaders, referencing the prestigious prize has become a tool to display diplomatic goodwill toward a U.S. president who fancies himself a peace-seeker.

Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, as did Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a meeting at the White House in early July, a journalist asked the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Gabon whether they believed Trump deserved the prize. Enjoying the flattering responses from the African leaders, Trump smiled and said, “We could do this all day.”

Tens of thousands of individuals are eligible to submit nominations to the Nobel Committee, including lawmakers, ministers, certain university professors, former laureates, and committee members themselves. Yet for many, the prospect of awarding the prize to someone who has disrupted the international order is unacceptable.

“I Deserve It!”

Emma Shortis, a researcher of American history and politics, wrote on The Conversation news site: “Nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is like entering a hyena in a dog show.” She asserted that Trump clearly does not deserve the prize.

The U.S. President disagrees. In February, while hosting Netanyahu at the White House, he lamented not receiving the Nobel Prize in his lifetime, telling reporters: “I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.”

In June, he again voiced his frustration on social media, saying: “No, no matter what I do, whether it be about Russia, Ukraine, Israel, or Iran, I will never receive the Nobel Peace Prize, regardless of the outcomes.”

Trump Has a Passion for Awards

Garrett Martin, a professor of international relations at American University, told AFP: “Trump is known for his particular interest in awards and recognition. Therefore, he would welcome this kind of grand international recognition.”

Martin added that since the beginning of his presidential ambitions ten years ago, Trump has positioned himself in contrast to Barack Obama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

The prize, awarded to the former Democratic President just nine months into his term, sparked heated debate that continues to this day.

In October 2024, during the final stage of his presidential campaign, Trump bitterly remarked: “If my name were Obama, they would give me the Nobel Prize in ten seconds.”

Previously, three other U.S. Presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1973, the prize was also awarded to Henry Kissinger for his efforts in helping end the Vietnam War. Kissinger, a former U.S. Secretary of State, was a highly controversial recipient of the prize.