Trump seems ready to beg to get his Nobel prize

Last month, US President Donald Trump spontaneously called Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg to ask for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. “Unexpectedly, as Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down a street in Oslo, Donald Trump called him […] He wanted the Nobel Prize – and to discuss tariffs,” reports Norwegian media outlet Dagens Næringsliv, citing anonymous sources.

Like the European Union and Canada, Norway has been subject to heavy tariffs, including a 15% customs duty on products imported into the United States since July 31.

Jens Stoltenberg, former Secretary General of the NATO Military Alliance, told Reuters that he had discussed these surcharges and economic cooperation with Mr. Trump, in preparation for an upcoming exchange between the U.S. President and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre but didn’t want to get into details, “I don’t wish to go into further detail about the content of our discussion.” 

According to Dagens Næringsliv, this is not the first time Mr. Trump has mentioned the Nobel Prize in a trade with Mr. Stoltenberg. In fact, the Republican president has complained on several occasions in recent years that he has not received this global accolade. Four of Trump’s predecessors, including Barack Obama, have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

“No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me!”, Trump said on his Truth Social platform last June.

Several leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Minister Hun Manet, announced that they had nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize for facilitating peace agreements or ceasefires.

Every year, hundreds of candidates are nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The winners are then selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. The winner is traditionally announced in Oslo in October.

The aim of the Nobel Prize is to reward the person who has worked hardest for “brotherhood between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”, as stated on the United Nations website.