By Obinna Uballa
The United States government has blasted the Norwegian Nobel Committee for what it described as a politically motivated decision after President Donald Trump was overlooked for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
In a strongly worded statement posted early Friday on X (formerly Twitter), White House Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the committee of prioritising “politics over peace,” following the announcement that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had been named this year’s laureate.
“He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,” Cheung said of Trump. “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”
The Trump administration had actively promoted the president’s candidacy for the prestigious award, pointing to his involvement in mediating at least seven international conflicts since returning to office in January. Several foreign governments, including Israel, Cambodia, and Pakistan, had also expressed support for his nomination.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) formally nominated Trump on Thursday, citing his efforts to broker a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. Last month, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a 20-point roadmap aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza, a plan that led to a ceasefire confirmed by Israeli authorities early Friday.
Despite the snub, Trump appeared unfazed when asked about his chances of winning the award. “They’ll have to do what they do,” he said Thursday. “Whatever they do is fine. I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I saved a lot of lives.”
In contrast, the Nobel Committee praised Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
While Trump’s bid was considered a long shot, as Nobel nominations typically close by February 1, Cheung insisted the president’s legacy transcends awards. “He will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” he said.
