Less than 48 hours before the Norwegian Nobel Committee announces the winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Donald Trump defended on Wednesday before reporters in the Oval Office that he deserves to receive the award for his intervention in eight international conflicts, although he acknowledged that he has doubts about his chances of obtaining it.
The statements, reported by Reuters, come just before the announcement scheduled for this Friday, October 9, in Oslo. According to official data from the Norwegian Nobel Institute, this year there were 287 nominations, including 208 individuals and 79 organizations.
Trump claims his intervention in eight conflicts
The U.S. president insisted that his diplomatic efforts since returning to the White House in January 2025 justify his consideration for the prestigious international recognition.
Trump claimed to have intervened in eight conflicts and insisted that his efforts to reduce international tensions should be recognized by the Nobel Committee.
However, the claim that it has resolved eight wars is controversial. According to Reuters, some of the parties involved question the extent of its mediation, while clashes have re-emerged in certain regions.
Among the cases mentioned by the agency are the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the border between Cambodia and Thailand, where tensions and episodes of violence have persisted despite U.S. diplomatic initiatives.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has not yet come to an end, despite Trump's promise during his electoral campaign to quickly put a stop to it upon returning to the presidency.
Another element complicating his aspiration for the Nobel is the conflict with Iran. The attacks by the United States and Israel that began in late February 2026 led to a prolonged confrontation that, according to Reuters, has disrupted international energy supplies and raised fuel prices.
Consequently, the president's claims about his diplomatic achievements must be distinguished from the results actually achieved in each conflict.
The medal of María Corina Machado and the precedent of Obama
During his statements, Trump recalled the episode involving the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2025, who presented him with her medal during a visit to the White House in January 2026.
The president stated that he felt honored by that gesture and recalled that Machado publicly expressed his recognition of his political actions.
Trump stated that the Venezuelan leader had expressed to him that no one in history deserved the award more than he did.
However, the Nobel Institute clarified at the time that the award cannot be transferred: even if the physical medal changes hands, the status of the laureate remains associated with Machado.
The U.S. president has also questioned on several occasions the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 to Barack Obama, who received the accolade during the first year of his term.
Comparisons to Obama are part of Trump's rhetoric regarding what he perceives as a lack of international recognition for his diplomatic initiatives.
Trump admits that he could miss out on the Nobel Prize
Despite defending his merits, the leader acknowledged that he is not sure if the Norwegian Nobel Committee will decide to award him.
“I don’t know what their decision will be. They have a reputation for perhaps not granting it to people like me,” Trump said, according to Reuters.
The president also recalled that he received the medal presented by Machado symbolically and expressed his satisfaction for that personal recognition.
His statements reflect the importance he places on the award, although the decision rests solely with the Norwegian Nobel Committee, composed of five members appointed by the Parliament of Norway.
Trump's current position contrasts with his statements from March 2026, when, following the onset of the offensive against Iran, he claimed that he was no longer interested in the Nobel and denied that the prize was part of his diplomatic discussions.
Who could win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026?
The Norwegian Nobel Institute confirmed that it has received 287 nominations for the 2026 edition, but the names of the nominees remain strictly confidential for 50 years.
For that reason, there is no official public list that confirms all the candidacies or establishes a definitive ranking of favorites.
The leaders of Cambodia, Israel, and Pakistan have claimed to have nominated Trump for the award, although Reuters notes that these nominations cannot be independently verified due to the committee's confidentiality rules.
Among the names and organizations mentioned by analysts and international media as potential contenders are Pope Leo XIV, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the Emergency Response Rooms of Sudan, a network of community groups providing humanitarian assistance during the civil war in that country.
Humanitarian organizations such as Save the Children and other initiatives related to the defense of human rights and assistance to populations affected by conflicts also appear in the speculations.
These mentions do not constitute official confirmations of candidacy and do not necessarily anticipate the committee's decision.
The winner will be announced this Friday in Oslo
The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 will be announced on Friday, October 9 in Oslo, according to the official schedule of the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Until then, the identity of the winner remains confidential, and the final decision rests with the Nobel Committee, which evaluates the nominations according to the criteria established in Alfred Nobel's will.
As the announcement approaches, Trump maintains his aspiration for international recognition, although his claims regarding the resolution of eight conflicts continue to be a topic of debate due to the ongoing clashes in several of the regions where he asserts progress has been made diplomatically.
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