Why Donald Trump didn’t win the Nobel peace prize despite him saying ‘he deserved it’? committee chairperson explains

The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday announced María Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. She was chosen for her efforts to defend the democratic rights of the people of Venezuela and for leading a peaceful and fair struggle against dictatorship.

After the announcement, a journalist asked the committee’s chairperson: “In recent months, US  President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and strongly wants to receive it. He even claimed that if he doesn’t get the prize, it would be an insult to the United States. As the head of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, what do you think about this? And has this kind of campaign, led by the President and his supporters both in the U.S. and abroad, affected the committee’s discussions or decision-making in any way?”

Answering the question, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Nobel Committee, said: “In the long history of the Nobel Peace Prize, this committee has seen all kinds of campaigns and media attention. Every year, we receive thousands of letters from people around the world sharing what peace means to them. The committee meets in a room filled with portraits of past laureates, a place that reminds us of courage and integrity. Our decisions are based only on the vision and wishes of Alfred Nobel.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for what he calls stopping “eight wars in eight months.”

However, in selecting María Corina Machado, the Nobel Committee stated: “Over the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced into hiding. Despite serious threats to her life, she chose to stay in Venezuela, a decision that has inspired millions. When authoritarian regimes seize power, it is vital to honour those brave defenders of freedom who rise up and resist.”

Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese group representing survivors of the atomic bombings. For this year’s award, the committee reviewed 338 nominations in total including 244 individuals and 94 organizations.

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