Even the presidents of Guinea-Bissau and Gabon voiced support for the idea at a White House summit. But not everyone is on board. In late June, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Merezhko withdrew his nomination, stating he had “lost any sort of faith” in Trump’s peace efforts. A diplomatic mixed bag, indeed.
Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt captured the White House sentiment: “President Trump has brokered on average about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. It’s well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”So, how does the Nobel Peace Prize nomination process actually work? Time to lift the curtain.
The Nobel Peace Prize isn’t something one can apply for with an online form. Nominations come from a select group—members of national governments, lawmakers, university professors in specific fields, former laureates, and international judges. These aren’t casual supporters; they hold influence or expertise.A head of government, such as the Prime Minister of Israel or Pakistan, can submit a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by January 31st, laying out the case for a nominee—Trump, for instance—based on accomplishments like the Abraham Accords or a ceasefire deal. Once submitted, the nominee is officially in the running. There’s no limit to how many times a person can be nominated—Trump could receive 20 separate nods, and each one would count.
Here’s the twist: the Norwegian Nobel Committee—a five-member panel appointed by Norway’s parliament—keeps the list of nominees confidential for 50 years. However, nominators often publicise their picks to make waves. In 2025, the committee is sifting through 338 candidates: 244 individuals and 94 organisations. That’s a crowded field. Over eight months, the committee consults experts and rigorously debates who has done the most to promote peace. Think of it as a high-stakes review process—except the subject isn’t literature but world-altering action.
The bar for nomination is surprisingly low. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times but never won. Adolf Hitler was even nominated in 1939—briefly, and as a dark joke. His name was promptly withdrawn. In short, a nomination is not a halo. Trump, for his part, seems to revel in the spectacle.
If Trump were to win, he’d join a long line of U.S. Presidents who have claimed the honour: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama—his political rival and the most recent American recipient.
But here’s the essential point: the Nobel Peace Prize isn’t merely a trophy for brokering peace deals or ending wars. It reflects how the global community defines and measures peace—an ever-shifting, complex ideal.
So, will Trump’s multiple nominations translate into a coveted medal? With 338 contenders and a famously secretive selection process, the outcome remains anyone’s guess. The winner will be revealed in October.
