Donald Trump decries Norway’s Nobel Peace Prize decision as a stain on the country

Former President Donald Trump slammed Norway for awarding the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former International Criminal Court judge and former UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, calling the choice "disgraceful" and "embarrassing".

During a rally in Syracuse, New York, Trump declared that he had "never heard" of the "mystery person" and described the award as an "indelible stain on the country of Norway". He went on to accuse the Nobel committee of being a group of “radical ideologues who are anti‑democracy and real enemies of civilisation” and insisted that the decision should not stand.

Pillay was recognized by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for her work in promoting peace and international law, which helped establish a fuller global legal order. She was praised for ensuring that war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity are subject to prosecution.

Trump’s criticism echoes complaints he raised last year when the same committee award the prize to Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado. The White House had previously called the committee's decision "politics over peace," and was hurt by the fact that the Nobel Prize is irrevocable, as the committee later clarified.

Despite the stark divergence of views, the Norwegian Nobel Committee maintains that the award process is independent of any governments. The present award underscores the enduring role of the Nobel Peace Prize as a global symbol for recognition of humanitarian work that spans political divides. Read more about the 2026 laureate.