Donald Trump criticized his predecessor Barack Obama’s achievement, earning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, right before his own campaign for the award failed.
“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.
Obama was eight months into his first term when he received the prestigious award in 2009. The New York Times reported that the recognition was ‘very premature’ and argued the Nobel ‘should have a higher bar.’
“They gave it to Obama for absolutely nothing but destroying our country,” Trump told reporters.
“I’ve stopped eight wars, so that’s never happened before – but they’ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives,” he added.
A September poll found that only 22% of Americans surveyed said Trump should win, including fewer than half of Republicans
Why Trump Believes He Deserves a Nobel Peace Prize
Instead of Trump, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has fought for democratic reform against the Nicolás Maduro regime.
Trump told the UN General Assembly in September his efforts to resolve “unendable wars” around the world merited a Nobel.
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said after the announcement on Friday morning.
“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” Cheung wrote on X. “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.”
Several MAGA conservatives attacked Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize win as they criticized Trump’s exclusion.
“President Obama was given a Nobel months into his Presidency without ending any wars. President Trump has now ended EIGHT wars,” Katie Miller, wife of Trump advisor Stephen Miller, said.
Only four U.S. presidents have won the coveted award: Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Obama.