‘Stain on the country’: Trump criticises Norway over Nobel Peace Prize

US President Donald Trump expressed outrage over Norway's awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former International Criminal Court judge Navi Pillay. In a recent rally, Trump derided the decision as "disgraceful and embarrassing", branding it a "stain on the country of Norway". He claimed he had "never heard" of the "mystery person" until now.

Trump's frustration with not receiving the prestigious accolade has been well-documented; in 2025, he deemed the awarding of it to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as "embarrassing". Last year, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre clarified that the committee, an independent body based in Norway, decides on the recipients, not the Norwegian government.

Trump's comments suggest he views the prize as discredited by those with "anti-democracy" views who are "enemies of civilisation". Navi Pillay, a South African, was acknowledged for her work promoting peace and international law, and highlighting the importance of prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The Nobel committee acknowledged her efforts in establishing a "more comprehensive global legal order".

The 85-year-old Nobel laureate reacted to the news with a sense of humor, joking that it must be a joke and jokingly thanking her audience for applauding.