Since returning to the White House in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to reshape his image as a “President of Peace.” With a bold 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, many believe Trump now stands closer than ever to winning the Nobel Peace Prize — though not without controversy.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is set to announce the 2025 Peace Prize winner at 11 a.m. on October 10 (4 p.m. Hanoi time). Among the 338 nominees, Trump is undoubtedly the most polarizing. Backed by leaders from Israel and Cambodia, he has openly declared his belief that his diplomatic efforts deserve the honor.
During his first term, Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations — a milestone in Middle East diplomacy. Despite global recognition, the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize went instead to the World Food Programme.
Now, Trump claims to have helped prevent six potential wars, including disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, India and Pakistan, and peace initiatives involving Israel, Iran, Rwanda, Congo, Serbia, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. “Without me, you’d be seeing six major wars,” Trump boasted during a recent address at the United Nations.
The most recent highlight of his diplomacy is the Gaza Peace Plan — a detailed 20-point framework to end hostilities, secure hostage releases, and shape Gaza’s future governance. Both Israel and Hamas have responded positively, with Hamas reportedly agreeing to release all hostages under Trump’s mediation — a move hailed as a historic breakthrough.
The “Hostages and Missing Families Forum,” a group representing Israeli families affected by the conflict, even sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee praising Trump for “turning the impossible into possible.” Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison echoed this sentiment, stating, “If President Trump achieves this, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
However, experts remain skeptical. Kristian Berg Harpviken, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, told Reuters that the committee evaluates broader global trends and sustainable peace efforts rather than political pressure or short-term gains. Nina Graeger, Director of the Oslo Peace Research Institute, added that Trump’s open campaigning for the award could backfire, as the committee prefers to reward quiet, long-term contributions to peacebuilding.