Trump’s Seven Wars, across Seven Seas: Nobel Dream Still a Long Shot

US President Donald Trump’s latest bid for the Nobel Peace Prize has reignited the annual guessing game over who will claim the prestigious award next.

Longtime Nobel watchers say Trump’s chances remain slim despite high-profile nominations and foreign policy efforts he personally credits himself for. Experts note that the Norwegian Nobel Committee generally values “the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity and the quiet work of institutions” that strengthen these goals.

The US president’s Claim

Trump cites his role in reducing US involvement in multiple conflicts, including the Iraq War (2003–2011 / ongoing advisory role), Afghanistan War (2001–2021), Syrian Civil War (2011–present), Libya (2011 intervention and post-Gaddafi instability), Yemen Civil War (2014–present), ongoing operations in Somalia, and most recently, interventions in the Gaza/Israel-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the Abraham Accords and the Gaza ceasefire plan.He frames these actions as steps toward ending direct US combat operations or supporting peace negotiations in these regions.

Critics Question Trump’s Record

Some observers argue Trump’s record might even hurt his chances. “There's a huge difference between getting fighting to stop in the short term and resolving the root causes of the conflict,” said Theo Zenou, historian and research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. He also noted Trump’s dismissive stance on climate change: “I don't think they would award the most prestigious prize in the world to someone who does not believe in climate change. When you look at previous winners who have been bridge-builders, embodied international cooperation and reconciliation: These are not words we associate with Donald Trump.”

Trump’s Previous Nominations

Trump has been nominated several times since 2018, including by US Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) for his role in brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistan’s government also nominated him this year, those submissions arrived after the February 1 deadline for the 2025 award.

Despite repeated public claims of deserving the prize and his assertion that he “ended seven wars,” Trump continues to lobby for recognition. Speaking to UN delegates late last month, he said, “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The Gaza Peace Plan

Trump recently teased the possibility of ending an eighth war if Israel and Hamas accept his peace plan for Gaza. The first phase of this plan has already led to a pause in fighting and the release of remaining hostages is expected to take place by Sunday or Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Families and supporters in Tel Aviv’s hostage square began chanting, “Nobel prize to Trump.”

Nobel Committee Favors Sustained Efforts

Nobel veterans emphasize that the committee typically rewards long-term, multilateral peace efforts over short-term diplomatic wins. “His rhetoric does not point in a peaceful perspective,” said Nina Graeger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. She also pointed to the committee’s past caution, referencing the criticism over awarding then-President Barack Obama the prize in 2009, just nine months into his first term.

A Long Shot

Though Donald Trump was reportedly nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, these efforts came after the official deadline for consideration. Even if, through some informal channel—perhaps a supporter or an admirer—his nomination made its way to the committee, the Nobel committee, operates behind closed doors and emphasizes peace work that is durable and institutionally grounded. “There's a huge difference between getting fighting to stop in the short term and resolving the root causes of the conflict,” Zenou reiterated.