Trump Hopes for Peace Prize... Nobel Committee Stresses "We Are Independent"

Norwegian Nobel Committee: "We Will Not Take External Pressure Into Account"
President Trump Steps Forward as Mediator in International Conflicts

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has stated that it will remain steadfast regarding U.S. President Donald Trump, who has shown a keen interest in winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

On the 12th (local time), Secretary-General Olav Njølstad of the Nobel Committee said in an interview with AFP, "We are aware that there is significant media attention on a particular candidate." The "particular candidate" appears to refer to President Trump.

President Donald Trump. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Njølstad went on to say, "There is absolutely no chance that the committee will be swayed by such things during ongoing discussions," emphasizing, "The committee reviews each candidate based on their individual merits."

Since the launch of his second administration, President Trump has positioned himself as a mediator for peace in conflicts around the world. Several U.S. media outlets have interpreted this as a sign of his ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Previously, among U.S. presidents, former President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. At the time, the committee cited his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" as the reason for selecting Obama. In this context, President Trump has referenced Obama's case, arguing that he is also deserving of the prize.

The committee has stressed that it has not been swayed by political pressure in the past. For example, despite a cautious warning from the Norwegian government, the committee awarded the 2010 Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. As a result, China imposed trade sanctions, including a ban on Norwegian salmon imports, and the two countries experienced years of diplomatic friction.

Njølstad emphasized, "The Nobel Committee will act completely independently," adding, "We will not take external pressure into account."