Donald's dream dumped: Trump overlooked for 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, but why?

In a decision that has stirred international attention, US President Donald Trump was overlooked on Friday for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, despite his repeated assertions that his global initiatives merited the award.

However, it might not have an entirely unanticipated move as Trump himself, who has long touted his foreign policy achievements, had said earlier, “They’ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I saved a lot of lives,” he said.

Instead, the prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition activist María Corina Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.


Machado’s award noted the committee’s continued emphasis on recognising human rights defenders and advocates for democratic governance.

But why could he have been overlooked?

Although Trump received several nominations, many of these were submitted after the Nobel Committee’s February 1 deadline for 2025 consideration, including proposals from leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistan’s government.

Other high-profile nominations—including from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and the Pakistani government—were submitted after the deadline, emphasising his involvement in brokering regional peace, though these came too late for the 2025 award.

Only one early nomination, submitted by Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney, formally cited Trump’s role in the Abraham Accords, according to an AP report.

Critics have argued that publicising his nominations may have been politically motivated rather than a genuine reflection of his eligibility.

Contested claims, unresolved conflicts

Trump has frequently compared himself to past US Nobel recipients such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Barack Obama, asserting that his foreign policy actions—including claims of ending seven global conflicts—warrant recognition.

Trump has also criticised past recipients, including Barack Obama, stating, “They gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country.”

However, many of these claims are contested, such as the India-Pakistan conflict that New Delhi continues to refute he had any hand in. On the other hand, some of the conflicts the Republican president highlights—such as tensions in West Asia or the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war—remain unresolved.

While the early ceasefire between Israel and Hamas offers potential progress, broader issues—such as Gaza’s governance and the Russia-Ukraine war—remain unresolved, underscoring the complexity of modern peace efforts.

The Nobel Prize’s enduring mission

Established in 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize rewards those who work toward international fraternity, the reduction of standing armies, or the promotion of peace congresses, as outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will.

Over its history, recipients have ranged from diplomats and politicians to activists and humanitarians. Trump’s snub in 2025, despite high-profile endorsements and repeated claims, reaffirms the committee’s focus on sustained, demonstrable contributions to global peace rather than political posturing.