Can Donald Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize?

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious global honors awarded to individuals or organizations for their contributions to peace. This year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the award.

If Trump wins, he would become the fifth U.S. president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, following Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.

Who Can Win the Prize?
According to the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, the Peace Prize is to be awarded to the person “who has done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the promotion of peace congresses.”

As noted by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, anyone from any walk of life can receive the prize. The history of the award shows that recipients have come from all layers of society across the world.

Who Can Nominate?

• Thousands of people are eligible to submit nominations. These include:
• Members of national governments and parliaments
• Heads of state
• University professors in fields like history, law, social sciences, and philosophy
• Former Nobel Peace Prize laureates

Self-nomination is not allowed.
The official list of nominees is kept secret for 50 years, although those making the nominations may publicly disclose their choices.

Who Decides?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, consisting of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, is responsible for selecting the laureate. Committee members are often retired politicians, but not exclusively.

The current committee is chaired by the head of PEN International Norway, an organization that defends freedom of expression. The committee reflects the political composition of the Norwegian parliament.

How Is the Decision Made?

• Nominations close on January 31, so Netanyahu’s nomination of Trump will not be considered this year.
• Committee members can also nominate candidates, but only up to their first official meeting in February.
• A shortlist is created, and nominees are thoroughly evaluated by experts and permanent advisers.
• While the committee aims for unanimity, they can decide by majority vote.
• Final decisions are usually made just a few days before the prize announcement.

Controversies
The Nobel Peace Prize has frequently sparked political debate. According to the official Nobel website, many recipients have been “highly controversial political actors.”

Some notable controversies include:

• Barack Obama winning the prize just months into his presidency
• The 1973 award to Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho over the Vietnam War negotiations, which led two committee members to resign
• The 1994 prize shared by Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin, prompting another resignation from the committee

What Does the Winner Receive?

• A gold medal
• A diploma
• 11 million Swedish crowns (approx. $1.15 million USD)
• And global media attention, if they are not already well-known

When Are the Announcement and Ceremony?

• The announcement of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner will take place on October 10 at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo
• The award ceremony will be held on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, at Oslo City Hall