Every year on 10 December, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. It is one of the world’s most famous honours, often carrying as much symbolism as substance. Yet it is also one of the most debated — both for who wins it and for who doesn’t. This year, US President Donald Trump was among the nominees but failed to secure the prize. Here’s how the award works, why it matters, and why Trump lost despite the nomination.
What is the Nobel Peace Prize?
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of six awards established under the will of Alfred Nobel, the 19th-century Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite. It is given to an individual or organisation that has done “the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway. The decision was Nobel’s own — a reflection of his belief that Norway’s parliament and institutions were more politically neutral and therefore better suited to judging matters of peace.
How is the winner chosen?
The selection process is both exclusive and secretive. A five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, appointed by the Norwegian parliament (Storting), reviews hundreds of nominations submitted by a select group of eligible nominators. These include members of national parliaments and governments, university professors, Nobel laureates, and certain international organisations.The committee does not release the list of nominees publicly, and its deliberations remain sealed for 50 years. Being nominated is therefore no guarantee of success — it is merely the starting point of a long and independent evaluation process.
What happened in 2025?
Donald Trump was nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with supporters citing his role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire agreement earlier this year. His backers argued that the deal, which halted months of conflict and laid the groundwork for potential diplomatic talks, represented a major achievement in international conflict resolution.However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize instead to María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who has been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy and human rights against Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian government. Machado’s selection reflected the committee’s emphasis this year on grassroots democratic activism and civil resistance.
Why Trump did not win
The Nobel Committee does not disclose its reasoning, but several factors likely worked against Trump’s candidacy.First, the competition is intense. In most years, there are more than 250 nominees, including heads of state, activists, NGOs, and international institutions. A nomination, while significant, carries no special weight.Second, the committee tends to favour figures whose contributions are seen as non-violent, enduring, and broadly accepted internationally. Trump’s foreign policy record — including his confrontational rhetoric, controversial diplomatic style, and deeply polarising domestic agenda — remains contentious globally.Finally, the committee often uses the prize to send a political message. Awarding Machado underlined global support for democratic resistance movements and civilian-led change — a cause with clear resonance in the current geopolitical climate.
Most controversial winners
The Nobel Peace Prize has frequently courted controversy — and sometimes outright outrage — over its choices. In 1973, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger received the award for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam even as American bombing campaigns continued; his co-winner, Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam, refused the prize. In 1994, the committee honoured Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin for the Oslo Accords, a deal many viewed as deeply flawed and short-lived. The 2009 award to Barack Obama — less than a year into his presidency and before any major diplomatic breakthrough — drew criticism for being premature. Even institutional winners have raised eyebrows, such as the European Union in 2012, which some argued was hardly a symbol of peace amid austerity-driven unrest. These decisions highlight a recurring tension: the Nobel Peace Prize often recognises intentions and potential rather than clear, lasting outcomes.
Why the Nobel Peace Prize still matters
Despite frequent controversies, the Nobel Peace Prize continues to shape the global conversation about peace, conflict, and justice. It highlights causes and individuals that might otherwise remain on the margins, amplifies struggles for human rights, and adds moral weight to diplomatic and grassroots efforts alike.Trump’s failed bid underscores an important point: the Nobel Peace Prize is not a reward for power or position. It is a recognition of impact, credibility, and vision — qualities that, in the eyes of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, were embodied this year not by a sitting US president, but by a Venezuelan dissident fighting for her country’s democratic future.
