Trump condemns Nobel Peace Prize award to Pillay as 'disgraceful' stain on Norway

US President Donald Trump condemned the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to South African human rights judge Navi Pillay, calling the Norwegian Nobel Committee's choice 'disgraceful' and saying it left 'an indelible stain on Norway.' Speaking at a Syracuse, New York rally on April 6, Trump said he had 'never heard of' Pillay and claimed the United States, represented by him as president, should have received the prize instead.

The Nobel Committee honored Pillay on October 4 for her work against war crimes and crimes against humanity. Pillay, who joked about sharing her prize with Trump, made the comment at a press statement on October 9 in Nuremberg's historic Courtroom 600, referencing Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado who gave her 2025 Nobel gold medal to Trump after winning the prize.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has openly desired the Nobel Peace Prize. However, experts in Oslo noted before the announcement that his policies—including the war against Iran, territorial expansion ambitions in Greenland, hard line on migrants, and attacks on multilateralism and media—disqualified him. The prize includes a gold medal, diploma, and $1.2 million.

This controversy highlights ongoing debates about what constitutes legitimate peace work globally. For Nigerians engaged in peacebuilding and human rights efforts, how might we ensure African contributions to peace are fairly recognized in major international awards like the Nobel Peace Prize?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/10/disgraceful-trump-slams-peace-prize-pick-other-reactions/