US President Donald Trump has reacted sharply to the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African lawyer Navi Pillay, calling the choice a shameful decision and an indelible stain on Norway.
During an election rally in Syracuse, New York, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction that the award was not given to him, claiming that his efforts to resolve international conflicts made him a deserving candidate for this award.
"This is a shameful decision and an indelible stain on Norway and those who made it," the US president declared.
Trump did not spare criticism either towards the winner, Navi Pillay, whom he described as a person unknown to the public.
"I've never heard of this person. Nobody has heard of him," he said, questioning the Nobel Committee's choice.
The US president also claimed to have contributed to the resolution of eight international conflicts and that, for this reason, he should have received not one, but eight Nobel Peace Prizes. Among the conflicts he mentioned were tensions between India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as clashes in the Middle East. However, his claims about resolving these conflicts remain controversial.
Following the criticism, Trump accused members of the Nobel Committee of being guided by radical ideology, stating that their decision has severely damaged the credibility of the prestigious prize.
Navi Pillay, 85, is an internationally recognized jurist for her commitment to protecting human rights and strengthening international justice. She has served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and as a judge on the International Criminal Court.
Pillay also led a United Nations commission of inquiry that concluded that Israel had committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, a finding that has been disputed by Israeli authorities.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized the lawyer for her many years of contribution to promoting peace, defending international law, and combating war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The decision to award Pillay the Nobel Peace Prize has brought into focus the ongoing dissatisfaction of Trump, who has for years claimed that his diplomatic engagement deserves to be honored with this prize.
