President Donald J. Trump’s fixation on the Nobel Peace Prize has become one of the strangest footnotes of his political career.
While most presidents aim to leave a legacy through policies or by establishing institutions, Trump appears fixated on a prize former President Barack Obama received in 2009.
Obama received the award less than a year into his presidency. On October 9, 2009, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Obama was the recipient, citing his promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and a “new climate” in America’s international engagement. It recognized potential, not a victory celebration. Critics thought it was premature, but it underscored how deeply Obama’s election transformed global expectations. In accepting the award, Obama acknowledged that his “accomplishments are slight.”
For nearly 10 years, Trump has both publicly and privately complained that he still hasn’t won the prestigious award. Last October, Trump, the same man who has openly criticized the former president and questioned his citizenship, said: “If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds,”
Trump, in contrast, has aimed for the prize as a symbol, openly and secretly lobbying for recognition. He has highlighted symbolic diplomatic achievements, like talks with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un or the Abraham Accords in the Middle East, as reasons. However, the Nobel Committee has consistently refused to be swayed, emphasizing that the prize is awarded through independent decision-making, not self-promotion.
Hillary Clinton, who has debated with Trump for years, summarized the issue with Trump’s desire for the prestigious award, particularly considering his relation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Honestly, if he could bring about the end to this terrible war, where Putin is the aggressor,” she said, “if he could end it without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede territory to the aggressor – to make it clear there must be a ceasefire – if we could pull that off, if President Trump were the architect, I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize.”
However, the irony is that Trump’s pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize only emphasizes the difference with Obama. While Obama’s award represented a global sigh of relief, Trump’s bid shows a bruised ego craving validation.
Ultimately, his obsession matters less for world peace and more for the insecurity of a 34-time convicted felon, who is anti-diversity, equity and inclusion, and cannot accept that Obama— a Black man— has what he likely never will: history’s respect.
Ha, what a great read.