Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize. That’s certainly a notion worth pondering, preferably while trying to keep a straight face. I gave it a fair shot. Sat down at the computer, searched for a list of Americans who’ve earned that honor in recent decades. Then, with pen in hand and optimism in short supply, I tried to draft a list of significant accomplishments Trump could credibly claim, something that might elevate his appeal to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. As Chandler Bing once said in an episode of Friends: “I got nothing.”
Why couldn’t I come up with a meaningful list of accomplishments? Not even a short one? Well, just glance at the achievements of Americans who’ve earned the Nobel Peace Prize in the past. It’s impressive. Now compare their achievements to what Trump has done. Get the point?
- 1912 Elihu Root: For promoting international arbitration and peace through diplomacy.
- 1925 Charles G. Dawes: For the Dawes Plan, which helped stabilize post-WWI Europe.
- 1929 Frank B. Kellogg: Co-authored the Kellogg-Briand Pact, renouncing war as national policy.
- 1931 Jane Addams: For pioneering social work and peace activism, including founding Hull House.
- 1931 Nicholas Murray Butler: For promoting international peace through education and diplomacy.
- 1945 Cordell Hull: For helping establish the United Nations as U.S. Secretary of State.
- 1964 Martin Luther King Jr.: For leading nonviolent resistance to racial injustice in the U.S.
- 1973 Henry Kissinger: For negotiating the Vietnam War ceasefire (shared with Le Duc Tho, who declined).
- 1986 Elie Wiesel: For bearing witness to the Holocaust and advocating for human rights and remembrance.
- 1997 Jody Williams: For leading the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
- 2007 Al Gore: Shared with the IPCC for raising awareness about climate change and advocating for global action.
Four previous U.S. Presidents have also received the Nobel Peace Prize, each for distinct contributions to peace and diplomacy. Roosevelt’s was the first ever awarded to a statesman, Wilson’s came after a world war, Carter’s honored a lifetime of post-office activism and Obama’s recognized his early promise on the world stage.
| President | Year | Reason for Award |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1906 | For mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War and promoting international arbitration. |
| Woodrow Wilson | 1919 | For founding the League of Nations after World War I. |
| Jimmy Carter | 2002 | For decades of work promoting peace, democracy and human rights (awarded post-presidency). |
| Barack Obama | 2009 | For efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. |
Theodore Roosevelt: Strategic Peace Through Power
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first statesman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. His achievement? Mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War through the Treaty of Portsmouth, a treaty that reshaped global power dynamics.
Roosevelt’s diplomacy was bold, strategic and enduring. The committee saw a man who used influence to stop bloodshed to achieve stability, rather than applause.
Woodrow Wilson: Architect of Peace Through Global Unity
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as the leading architect of the League of Nations, a visionary international body designed to resolve conflicts and preserve peace after the devastation of World War I. Despite fierce opposition at home and the U.S. Senate’s refusal to join the League, the Nobel Prize Committee honored Wilson for seeking to prevent wars through international cooperation.
Jimmy Carter: Peace Through Principle
In 2002, Jimmy Carter, long out of office, received the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of humanitarian work. His legacy includes the Camp David Accords, which ended decades of war between Egypt and Israel and the founding of the Carter Center, which promotes democracy, human rights and global health. The committee didn’t just honor what he did, they honored how he did it: with integrity, humility and a relentless commitment to justice.
Barack Obama: A Call for Global Dialogue
In 2009, President Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. Awarded just months into his presidency, the honor recognized his vision of a world united by dialogue rather than division. From promoting nuclear disarmament to redefining U.S. relations with the Muslim world, Obama’s early leadership signaled a shift toward cooperation and a shared global responsibility.
Trump: Peace Through…?
Now. Enter Donald Trump, whose recent diplomatic efforts to win the Nobel Peace Prize have drawn nominations from Cambodia, Pakistan, Israel, Rwanda, and others. He’s taken credit for brokering ceasefires in flashpoints ranging from India–Pakistan to Israel–Iran and convened a summit with Putin, touting it as a step toward resolving the Russia–Ukraine war.
However, in the case of India and Pakistan, it’s necessary to mention that India has objected to Trump’s claim that he was responsible for the May ceasefire between India and Pakistan; the Indian government describes the resolution as something that was brokered bilaterally between India and Pakistan and has downplayed Trump’s role. And in the case of Rwanda and the DRC, Qatar also played a critical role that the Trump administration has conveniently left out of its narrative.
Trump behaves like a toddler in a sandbox. Only this one isn’t interested in building castles or making friends. He doesn’t collaborate. He doesn’t create. He just grabs. Every object in sight becomes a trophy, not a tool. And if another kid dares to hold onto something he wants, negotiation isn’t on the table. He bullies, threatens and intimidates until it’s his.
But here’s the thing with Trump. It’s not about need. It’s not about joy. It’s about possession. Trump doesn’t chase things because they offer meaning or fulfillment. He chases them because they’re visible, enviable and braggable. Whether it’s wealth, titles, or symbolic honors, the pattern never changes: grasp, claim, boast.
The Nobel Peace Prize is no exception. He doesn’t chase it to honor peace or elevate diplomacy. He covets it because it glitters. It’s prestigious, global and braggable. In his mind, he “deserves” it. Not for calming tensions, but for commanding attention. Peacemaking? That’s irrelevant. What matters is the headline, the photo op, the applause. Peace isn’t the goal. Recognition is.
The Nobel Committee doesn’t hand out prizes to reward ambition dressed up as entitlement, and it certainly doesn’t cater to ego. The Peace Prize rewards efforts to achieve durable peace, moral clarity and global impact. None of which Trump has achieved.
The Nobel Peace Prize isn’t a trophy, Donald. You want it? Earn it!