On October 9, 2026, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, claimed to have settled eight wars and sought the Nobel Peace Prize in a speech to his supporters in Syracuse, New York. He made these assertions without being recognized by the Norwegian committee. This speech came hours after the announcement of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Navi Pillay, a 85-year-old South African jurist.
Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting peace and international law. In response, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the committee had devalued the prize. During his speech, he described the Nobel Peace Prize as "dishonest" and claimed that he had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and potentially destabilizing the Middle East.
Trump also asserted that he had saved more lives than anyone in history and recovered all Israeli hostages, alive and dead. He promised that Iran would never acquire a nuclear weapon. In defending his claim of settling eight wars, he asked his audience to overlook conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, and Iran.
This marks Trump's second consecutive year of seeking the Nobel Peace Prize without success. Earlier in the week, he stated that he had accomplished things that no one else had and anticipated that the committee might not award it to someone like him. In autumn 2025, he expressed a similar desire, citing the resolution of seven conflicts.
The Nobel committee received 287 candidatures, but they do not confirm any names, as nominations remain secret for 50 years. Some leaders, including those from Cambodia, Pakistan, and Israel, claimed to have proposed Trump's name for the award. Despite this, the committee awarded the prize to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition figure, last year.
Trump's speech in Syracuse aimed to support Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, against Democrat Kathy Hochul. During the speech, Trump made a financial promise, stating that if Republicans won the House and Senate, he would give $5,000 to every adult in the country.
Trump also discussed energy, promising that oil prices would decrease significantly once the war ended. The conflict with Iran was still ongoing less than a month before the midterm elections. The speech showcased Trump's continued efforts to promote his accomplishments and vision, particularly with an eye towards the November 3 elections.
Key points
- Trump claims to have settled eight wars and seeks the Nobel Peace Prize despite never being awarded.
- Navi Pillay, a South African jurist, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting peace and international law.
- Trump's speech in Syracuse aimed to support the Republican candidate for governor of New York and promote his vision for the country.
