Trump holds sway over who wins Nobel Peace Prizes

Donald Trump's bid for the Nobel Peace Prize appears doomed as the U.S. wades into war with Iran, but the awarding committee will take his influence into account when selecting a winner, experts suggest. Last year's award to Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado was a unique instance of pressure from Trump, as she subsequently presented him with the gold medal to support her cause for democracy in Venezuela.

This year, the five-member Nobel Committee will likely be cautious in choosing someone who can withstand Trump's pressure, according to Haakon Gjerloew, acting director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. The committee may consider alternatives such as the Pope, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, or Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Pope Leo, who has consistently criticized U.S. actions in Iran, might be a contender due to his advocacy for dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution. Italy's Albanese faces U.S. and Israeli criticism for her stance on Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The committee, however, is also under pressure to respond to Trump's challenges to the international order, potentially leading to an award recognizing Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms or Save the Children for their humanitarian work.

Trump's nomination by the leaders of Cambodia, Israel, and Pakistan, though deemed unlikely, has surprised many, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who emphasized that "bullies don't run the world."