Bangla Press Desk: US President Donald Trump has expressed resentment over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Labeling the laureate Navanethem "Navi" Pillay a "mysterious figure," he stated that the decision not to award him the prize would remain an "indelible stain" on Norway.
Trump voiced this grievance while addressing a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday evening. He remarked that he did not know what Pillay had actually done. Addressing Norway, Trump added, "We will not forget that you did not give me this award."
Earlier, Trump had also expressed disappointment on his social media platform, Truth Social, regarding his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize. There, he claimed to have ended eight wars, come close to ending two more, secured the return of all Israeli hostages, and prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He argued that, for these reasons, either he or the United States deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump stated, "I resolved eight wars and am close to ending or settling two more. I brought back all Israeli hostages, including the final 28—both the living and the dead. Hundreds of hostages from various countries were freed and returned home. I won a conflict in Venezuela and detained the violent dictator who ruled the country ruthlessly. Furthermore, I prevented Iran—the leading state sponsor of terrorism—from acquiring nuclear weapons. I have done so much more. Yet, neither I nor the United States received the Nobel Peace Prize. Wow!"
However, not all of Trump's claims regarding the resolution of eight conflicts align with reality. Some conflicts are ongoing, while in other instances, other parties played significant roles in bringing the hostilities to an end.
In a speech lasting approximately ten minutes, Trump reiterated that he should have received the Nobel Peace Prize. He described the decision not to award him the prize as "shameful and embarrassing" for Norway and those responsible for the decision.
Trump has long aspired to win the Nobel Peace Prize. At various times, he has claimed that he is the rightful candidate for the award. Reports indicate that he even attempted to pressure Norwegian leaders regarding the prize; instances of him contacting the country's finance minister and sending a message to the prime minister have come to light.
However, Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, stated on Saturday that the awarding committee operates independently of the Norwegian government. Their sole responsibility is to honor recipients based on the criteria set forth in Alfred Nobel's will.
While not commenting directly on Trump's remarks, Reiss-Andersen said, "The purpose of this prize is to honor an individual who, with courage and integrity, has paved the way for establishing a broader global legal order. To build a peaceful society, our society and the world must move in that direction."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is not part of the country's government, although its members are appointed by the parliament, and the committee's composition reflects the parliament's political makeup. Who is Navi Pillay?
This year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the eminent jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem "Navi" Pillay. She received the award in recognition of her contributions to international law and the establishment of peace.
Pillay’s career includes leading the international tribunal investigating the 1994 Rwandan genocide, providing legal assistance to anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, and serving as a judge at the International Criminal Court. Last year, she led a UN commission that characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide—an allegation Israel has rejected.
Currently, Pillay is serving as a judge in a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. The case involves allegations of genocide committed by the country's military-led government against the Rohingya Muslim minority population. After the news of the award was announced, Pillay jokingly remarked amidst applause on Friday, "If you applaud a little more, perhaps I might share the prize with Trump."
She later dedicated the award to the victims of war crimes. Expressing surprise that the committee had praised her courage, Pillay asked, "Why should courage be required to speak the truth?"
She also criticized the threats made against the International Criminal Court, describing such moves as attempts to undermine the international system of criminal justice.
US sanctions on the ICC on the very day Pillay receives the award
Within hours of Navi Pillay receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the Trump administration imposed harsh sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the move was taken to halt the threat posed to US sovereignty by this "reckless court."
Haakon Gjerløw, Acting Director of the Oslo-based independent research institute PRIO (Peace Research Institute Oslo), noted that the announcement of US sanctions against the ICC on the very day Pillay received the award further highlights the significance of the prize.
He said, "The Nobel Committee has sent a clear message that international law and the institutions that uphold it are essential foundations for a peaceful world. The committee's decision was courageous, and the reaction it provoked is alarmingly bullying in nature."Meanwhile, alongside Trump, several other countries and individuals have at various times campaigned for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize or nominated him for it. Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado—last year's Peace Prize laureate—also presented her medal to Trump in January. Reports noted that this occurred a few weeks after Trump had ousted Venezuela's long-time leader, Nicolás Maduro, from power.
However, the Nobel Committee has clarified that once the prize is awarded, it cannot be revoked, split, or transferred to anyone else. Source: The Washington Post
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