In brief
Donald Trump angrily condemned Norway's decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former International Criminal Court judge Navi Pillay, saying the move left a 'stain' on the nation. The president, who has long claimed he deserved the award, returned to a rally in Syracuse where he vowed not to forget the offence. Pillay, 85, praised for her work enforcing war crimes law, welcomed the honour with light‑hearted humor about sharing it with Trump. Norway’s prime minister clarified that the independent Nobel Committee is separate from the government. The clash highlights Trump’s ongoing conflict with the U.N. and the Nobel institution over trophy politics.
Donald Trump slams Norway over Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a stain
US President Donald Trump denounces Norway's Nobel Peace Prize decision, claiming it's an 'indelible stain' on the country.
At a rally in Syracuse, New York, President Trump asserted that he had "never heard" of the Nobel laureate and that the award was "disgraceful and embarrassing. He called the decision an "indelible stain on the country of Norway" and vowed that his supporters would not forget the honour.
Navi Pillay, 85, the former United Nations human‑rights chief and International Court of Justice judge, was named the 2026 laureate for her work promoting peace and international law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s chair, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, highlighted Pillay’s pivotal role in prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide worldwide.
Trump, who has repeatedly hinted that he deserves the prize, extended his criticism to the committee’s choice of an independent body, separate from the Norwegian government, to decide the award.
Former Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who received the 2025 prize, had earlier urged Trump to accept the award, which he humorously declined at a White House meeting.
The controversy underscores a broader pattern of Trump’s disputes with the United Nations and the Nobel Committee, reflecting his ongoing complaints that the institutions place "politics over peace."
