Trump Says He No Longer Feels Bound to ‘Think Purely of Peace’ After Nobel Snub

Former US President Donald Trump has said he no longer feels obligated to focus solely on peace after failing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a message sent to Norway’s prime minister.

US President Donald Trump told Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he no longer felt compelled to think “purely of peace” after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a message that was made public on Monday.

In the message, Trump said Norway’s decision not to award him the prize — despite his claims of having stopped multiple wars — had altered his outlook. He stated that he believed he deserved the honour for ending “eight wars plus,” adding that the snub removed any obligation for him to focus exclusively on peace.

The authenticity of the message was confirmed by a source close to the matter and by Prime Minister Støre himself to Norwegian media. However, it remains unclear why Trump addressed the issue to the Norwegian prime minister, as the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the independent Norwegian Nobel Committee, not by the Norwegian government.

Responding in writing, Støre reiterated that the Norwegian government has no role in selecting Nobel Peace Prize winners. He said he had clearly explained to Trump that the prize is decided by an independent committee.

Trump has long expressed a desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and frequently refers to himself as a “president of peace.” Last week, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a visit to the White House, describing the gesture as recognition of his support for Venezuela’s freedom.

Machado received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for leading Venezuela’s opposition amid political repression under President Nicolás Maduro. Her visit to Washington followed recent developments in Venezuela, including the capture of Maduro and his wife in a US military operation and their transfer to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

Trump later confirmed on social media that Machado had left the medal with him, calling the act an honour. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified that Nobel Peace Prizes cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or shared once awarded. While medals may be physically given to another person, the title of laureate remains solely with the original recipient.

Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending eight conflicts, including disputes involving Israel and Hamas, India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and others. Critics note that several of these conflicts were either short-lived or ongoing, while some involved diplomatic tensions rather than active warfare.

Despite these disputes, Trump has continued to cite his role in global conflict resolution as justification for his Nobel ambitions.