Trump's War Moves Kill His Shot at Nobel

Donald Trump as a global peacemaker. But instead, what began with one congressman's letter has unraveled into an international firestorm that has allies backpedaling and critics roaring.

The Bid That Sparked a Backlash

Just days ago, Representative Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) boldly nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, touting his involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The 12-day conflict had rattled the Middle East and threatened to draw in other powers. Carter, a known Trump ally and 2026 Senate hopeful, wrote to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, saying, "President Trump took bold action to ultimately champion peace through strength and facilitate a ceasefire framework that brought hostilities to a halt," according to USA TODAY.

But the ink was barely dry on Carter's letter when the White House authorized military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The backlash was swift. In Pakistan, where leaders had just endorsed Trump for a separate peace effort in the India-Pakistan crisis, outrage boiled over.

The very same government that had praised Trump for "decisive diplomatic intervention" revoked its support, citing the bombing of key Iranian sites as a betrayal of peace, according to Newsweek.

Pakistani political leaders, including former senator Mushahid Hussain and JUI-F's Maulana Fazlur Rehman, slammed the nomination and called it a national embarrassment.

Ukraine Pulls the Plug

Meanwhile, in Europe, another key endorsement vanished. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, who had nominated Trump last fall for his perceived efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, publicly withdrew his support. His reason? Diminishing confidence in Trump's commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and frustration over a perceived soft hand with Russia.

According to Newsweek, Merezhko claimed he had "lost any sort of faith and belief" in Trump's ability to secure peace, calling the president's recent decisions an embrace of appeasement.

Trump's reluctance to impose new sanctions on Russia, coupled with his focus shifting to the Middle East, was the final straw. He also pointed to the lack of U.S. response to recent Russian attacks on Kyiv and the economic implications of rising oil prices benefitting Russia.

Allies Turn Skeptics

Inside Pakistan, condemnation wasn't limited to lawmakers. Political parties and diplomats branded the Trump nomination a national embarrassment. Critics from across the political spectrum called out what they viewed as hypocrisy — how can a man celebrated for peace also green-light airstrikes that jeopardize nuclear stability?

Author Fatima Bhutto and other civil society voices echoed calls to revoke the nomination immediately. Jamaat-i-Islami leader Naeemur Rehman called the move an insult to national dignity. Former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and politician Afrasiab Khattak labeled the nomination "sycophancy" and warned of diplomatic repercussions, according to the Economic Times.

And then there's the oil. Merezhko pointed out that a Middle East escalation could raise global oil prices — a win for Moscow and a loss for Kyiv. One unintended consequence of Trump's actions, critics say, is that Russia may now profit from the very chaos the president claims to have resolved.

Carter's Calculation

Why the rush to nominate? According to multiple reports, Carter's move may have had more to do with political ambition than diplomacy. The Georgia congressman, who previously floated the idea of renaming Greenland to "Red, White, and Blueland," according to the Intelligencer, is running for Senate and stands to benefit from Trump's endorsement.

In nominating Trump, Carter echoed Republican frustration that former President Barack Obama received a Nobel Peace Prize early in his first term. Trump himself weighed in, lamenting on Truth Social that he would never be awarded the prize no matter what he did — but insisting that "the people know, and that's all that matters to me," according to the USA TODAY.

A Prize or a PR Misfire?

According to Oddspedia, as of now, Trump's Nobel odds have surged on betting markets, rising from 8% to 28%, as reported by the Daily Beast.

But with international endorsements evaporating and critics shouting louder than ever, it's clear this nomination is anything but uncontested.

While the Nobel Committee does not comment on nominations, their guidelines are explicit: the prize goes to those who have "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses," according to the Daily Beast.

Whether Trump's ceasefire qualifies as such work remains to be seen.

References: Trump Gains and Loses Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in One Day | GOP lawmaker nominates Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran ceasefire | Donald Trump Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Withdrawn | Blood, bombs and a Nobel? Pakistan chokes on Trump nomination after US bombs Iran | MAGA Sycophant Leads Charge to Get Iran-Bombing Trump a Nobel Peace Prize