Five members of Norway’s Nobel Committee could decide whether US President Donald Trump achieves his long-sought goal of winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, elected by Norway’s parliament, awards the Peace Prize to those who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses,” according to Alfred Nobel’s will.Nominations for this year’s prize closed on January 31, with 338 candidates in the running, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. The final decision, shrouded in secrecy, will be announced on Friday at 11 am local time (09:00 GMT) in Oslo.Trump has repeatedly claimed that he has ended at least eight wars worldwide. These include Israel and Iran; the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda; Cambodia and Thailand; India and Pakistan; Serbia and Kosovo; Egypt and Ethiopia; Azerbaijan and Armenia and recent Gaza ceasefire. He has openly lobbied Norwegian diplomats and stressed that failing to award him the prize would be a “big insult” to the United States. However, the committee maintains that decisions are made independently, without outside influence, as reported by Al Jazeera. The five members of the committee are:
- Jorgen Watne Frydnes: Frydnes is the chairperson of committee. He is a human rights advocate who has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières and the
Norwegian Helsinki Committee . He was secretary-general of PEN Norway and has been involved in memorial and rebuilding efforts after the 2011 Utoeya massacre. Appointed in 2021, he is the youngest-ever chair of the committee. - Asle Toje: Toje is the vice-chairperson of committee. A conservative political scientist, Toje served as research director at the Norwegian Nobel Institute before joining the committee in 2018. He is the author of The European Union as a Small Power: After the Post-Cold War. Known for his nuanced views, he attended Trump’s inauguration but has not indicated support for the president’s Nobel bid.
- Anne Enger: Enger is a member of the committee since 2018. Enger began her career as a nurse and teacher, later moving into politics with Norway’s Centre Party. She served as deputy prime minister and acting prime minister briefly in 1998 and has held roles including county governor of Ostfold. Enger has been involved in social campaigns, including anti-abortion advocacy, and is reappointed until 2026.
- Kristin Clemet: Clemet was appointed in 2021. She is an economist and Conservative Party politician who served twice as an adviser to Norway’s former prime minister and was minister of education from 2001 to 2005. She has publicly criticized Trump’s democratic policies, expressing concerns over the impact on liberal values and human rights.
- Gry Larsen: Larsen is appointed for 2024–2029 term. She is a former Labour state secretary in the foreign ministry and leads CARE Norway, a humanitarian organization advocating for global women’s rights. She has previously criticized Trump’s foreign aid cuts and his approach to human rights. Larsen brings extensive experience in humanitarian and international development work to the committee.
While Frydnes has emphasized consensus in decision-making, some members, including Larsen and Clemet, have criticized Trump’s policies and human rights record. Toje, meanwhile, attended Trump’s inauguration but has not indicated any support for his candidacy. Enger has remained tight-lipped on her preferences.The Nobel Committee operates in strict confidentiality. Individual votes are never disclosed and lobbying or public pressure rarely affects the final decision. Experts say the committee’s role is to assess nominees on merits aligned with Nobel’s vision of peace, not political popularity.Other strong contenders this year include Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, Yulia Navalnaya, and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
