Many of us may wonder why Donald Trump insists on having the Nobel Peace Prize? What has he done so noble that he should even think of having one let alone talk about it? Does he fulfill the criteria to qualify that would convince the Nobel committee at Oslo? Donald Trump possibly gets encouraged by the fact that Henry Kissinger got it in 1973, almost in the middle of the Vietnam War.
We may recall, along with Le Duc Tho, the then US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1973, for their work in negotiating the ceasefires contained in the Paris Peace Accords on “Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam.”
But what about Suu Kyi (Aung San Suu Kyi) getting the same prize in 1991? Did she deserve it? Many believe she did. Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her role leading the non-violent movement against the military dictatorship and for her significant role in the country’s democratic transition.
Now, let’s see how Prof. Yunus got one for peace. Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus, called banker of the poor, and the Grameen Bank together were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2006 for their pioneering work in microcredit, which aims to create economic and social development by providing small loans to the poor. Their innovative approach has helped millions break out of poverty.
So, you see Donald Trump has plenty to grudge about, for not yet receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He sees no one alive at the moment better than him to qualify for the prize. He has been discussing this ‘important’ issue in every forum in a bid to increase the number of his nominators. He believes in lobbying for it.
Not surprisingly, some months back, Netanyahu recommended Nobel Peace prize for Donald Trump. Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. He previously held office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, therefore he is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu believes the US president deserves this award more than anyone else. We know, Netanyahu needs Trump’s support for his war at Gaza, A few more of Trump’s admirers also believe the he should be given the coveted Nobel Peace prize for doing numerous works all over the world that contributed to ensuring peace in the world; though his critics cannot mention any work worthy of fetching the prestigious prize.
Times of India wrote recently: “Trump is obsessed with the Pace Prize. He mentions it at rallies, he hounds his allies, he discusses with enemies, he literally demands world leaders nominate him for it and even threatens Norway with tariffs if Oslo does not give him one.”
What has he done to demand one? Well, he claims he has “stopped seven wars” in the recent past therefore why don’t they give him the Nobel? His biographers could not find out when and where he has stopped all these wars. India flatly refused he had any role in stopping its war with Pakistan. Many other border skirmishes that he mentioned in a speech have not stopped fully yet. So, his diehard critics ask the question when and how did he play any role in stopping any war?
Many Trump watchers tend to believe his obsession with Nobel Prize stems from the uncomfortable fact that Barack Obama got one while he was the president of America. This has truly busted Trump’s ego, so he must have one. Donald Trump even claimed, though jokingly, that he would have received the Nobel Peace prize if he was named ‘Obama.’ He said that there was “unfairness” in the world and that if he were a ‘liberal democrat’ he would have won the prize by now.
The writer is a senior journalist
