The Nobel Peace Prize is more than just a political award; it is often seen as a statement on the world’s moral compass, pointing toward a future of greater humanity and cooperation. When evaluated by this standard, Donald Trump’s record as a leader points in the opposite direction, which is why experts believe the committee in Oslo will not choose him as its next laureate.
The prize has a history of honoring figures who have become moral icons, champions of human rights, and symbols of reconciliation. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai are laureates whose names are synonymous with courage and a deep commitment to universal human values. They set the moral tone for the award.
Trump’s supporters focus on a pragmatic achievement: the Abraham Accords. They argue for a non-moralistic assessment based on results. However, the committee cannot ignore the broader context of a nominee’s leadership. Trump’s presidency was marked by controversies over his rhetoric on race, his administration’s policies on immigration, and his challenges to democratic norms. These actions are seen by critics as a departure from the moral principles embodied by past laureates.
Theo Zenou, a research fellow, alluded to this when he described the ideal laureate as a “bridge-builder” who embodies “reconciliation.” These are terms laden with moral significance, and as he noted, they are “not words we associate with Donald Trump.” His political brand is built on disruption and division, not on the healing and unity the prize often celebrates.
The Nobel Committee is a guardian of a certain vision of human progress. It uses the prize to signal what the world should aspire to be. To award it to a figure as morally divisive as Trump would be to abandon that role. The committee’s moral compass, experts agree, points far away from his brand of leadership.