The White House sharply criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday after President Donald Trump was passed over for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the committee of “placing politics over peace” for selecting Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado instead of the former president, who recently brokered a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Machado was awarded the prize for her efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela, with the committee praising her campaign against the Maduro regime. But Trump officials and allies contend the decision was politically motivated and ignored Trump’s extraordinary recent achievements in international diplomacy.
“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” Cheung said. He added that Trump’s passion for peace stems from his humanitarian heart, not from seeking accolades. “There will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”
Republican leaders, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), formally nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize following his successful negotiation of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal included a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire, ending a two-year conflict that had claimed thousands of lives.
The Trump administration also secured support from several nations, including Israel, Cambodia, and Pakistan, to back his nomination. However, insiders pointed out that Nobel nominations were due on February 1—well before many of Trump’s peace accomplishments took place—potentially disqualifying his late-term successes from consideration.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump praised the peace agreement, calling it a “GREAT Day” for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, and the United States. He also thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their efforts in assisting his administration’s negotiations.
Trump, who has previously criticized the Nobel Committee, downplayed the snub in comments to reporters Thursday. “Whatever they do is fine,” he said. “I know this—I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I saved a lot of lives.”
