Trump veers into Nobel Prize grievances during upstate New York rally on day award is announced

President Donald Trump, during a rally in upstate New York on Friday, expressed vehement displeasure with the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to South African jurist Navanethem Navi Pillay. The former U.N. human rights chief was recognized for her advocacy in justice and accountability for war crimes and genocide.

Trump argued that the award was an "indelible stain on the country of Norway" and contended he should have received the prestigious honor instead. He claimed to have ended eight wars, although some conflicts he attributes to resolution were merely tensions, and his alleged role in easing them has been contested. The ongoing war with Iran, started by Trump and Israel, remains unresolved, casting a shadow over his party as they face a challenging electorate ahead of midterm elections.

A recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 71% of U.S. adults disapproved of Trump's handling of Iran, with 28% approving. The conflict has contributed to rising gas prices and voter concerns over the cost of living, with only 17% approving of Trump's management of the issue. Trump harshly criticized Pillay, labeling her a "liberal person who works at the United Nations who nobody has ever heard of" and accusing Norway of discrediting the Nobel Peace Prize through radical ideologues hostile to democracy.

The rally, aimed at promoting Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman, allowed Trump to attack various Democrats, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom he referred to as a "dog." Blakeman, the Republican nominee for New York governor, emphasized his independence from Trump, arguing that voters should not assume the president's presence on the ballot.

Hochul, the Democratic incumbent, leveraged Trump's unpopularity to her advantage, hoping his low approval ratings would help her defeat her Republican opponent.