US President Donald Trump has criticised the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize decision, describing the selection of South African human rights champion Navi Pillay as “disgraceful” and claiming the award should have gone to him.
Trump made the remarks on Friday during a rally in Syracuse, New York, where he accused the Norwegian Nobel Committee of making an embarrassing decision.
Pillay, a South African lawyer and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was recognised for her work against war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Reacting to her selection, Trump said he had never heard of Pillay before the announcement.
“I never heard of this particular person, but congratulations anyway,” he said.
“The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t.”
He also accused the committee of leaving “an indelible stain on the country of Norway” through its choice of laureate.
Trump Renews Bid for Nobel Peace Prize
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, experts in Oslo had questioned his suitability for the award before Pillay was announced as the 2026 laureate.
They cited his war against Iran, territorial ambitions involving Greenland, hard-line immigration policies and attacks on multilateralism and the media.
Trump also condemned the Nobel Peace Prize itself, claiming it had been discredited by its selection process.
“The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation,” he said.
Pillay Jokes About Sharing Prize With Trump
Pillay appeared to make light of Trump’s disappointment after the announcement, joking about sharing her award with the US president.
Addressing a crowd that applauded her achievement, she said: “If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump.”
Her remark appeared to reference Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who reportedly gave Trump her Nobel gold medal after winning the prize in 2025.
The Nobel Peace Prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and prize money of $1.2 million.
Pillay’s selection places renewed attention on the award’s recognition of efforts to promote human rights, accountability and international justice, amid Trump’s continued criticism of the committee’s decision.
