Trump says he's 'not interested' in Nobel Peace Prize after months of saying he deserved it

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Thursday, March 12, that he was “not interested” in winning the Nobel Peace Prize, despite repeatedly arguing in recent months that he deserved the award for his role in resolving global conflicts.

The comments came during a phone interview with the Washington Examiner in which he was asked whether ongoing military operations in Iran could influence his chances of receiving the prize.

Trump said he did not know whether the current conflict would affect any consideration by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and added that the issue was not something he had discussed with foreign leaders.

The remarks marked a shift from earlier statements in which the president frequently raised the possibility of winning the prestigious international award.

Trump downplays Nobel Prize speculation tied to Iran operation

During the interview, Trump said that he did not know whether the operation would influence the Nobel Committee’s decision and said the topic was not something he focused on.

“I don't know,” Trump said when asked whether the campaign might get him over the finish line. “I’m not interested in it,” he added.

The administration described the campaign as part of broader efforts to counter Iran’s military capabilities and prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. 

Trump also said the subject had not come up in discussions with foreign leaders involved in diplomatic conversations about the conflict. “No, I don’t talk about the Nobel Prize,” he said.

Earlier remarks frequently highlighted Nobel ambitions

Trump’s statement contrasted with comments he made earlier in the year, when he repeatedly argued that his diplomatic efforts warranted recognition from the Nobel Committee.

“I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me,” Trump said in January.

“I should have gotten the Nobel Prize for each war, but I don't say that,” he said at the time.

Throughout 2025, Trump asserted that he had played a role in ending or de-escalating several global conflicts. However, independent fact-checks questioned some of those claims.

Despite his earlier comments about deserving the award, Trump also said that his priority was saving lives rather than receiving recognition. 

The Nobel Peace Prize has long been a point of political discussion involving presidents. Former President Barack Obama received the prize in 2009, early in his first term, a decision that drew debate in Washington and internationally.