US President Donald Trump has condemned the decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist and human rights advocate Navi Pillay, claiming the choice was a disgrace to Norway and that the honour should have gone to the United States under his leadership.

Speaking at a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday, Trump described the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision as “a disgraceful and embarrassing decision” and said it had left “an indelible stain” on Norway. Pillay was awarded the prize in recognition of her work on international law and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Trump said he had never heard of Pillay before the announcement, while arguing that his own efforts on the international stage merited the award.

“I never heard of this particular person, but congratulations anyway,” he said.

“The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t.”

Trump Accuses Nobel Committee Of Discrediting Award

Trump said the committee’s decision had damaged the standing of the prestigious award, which includes a gold medal, a diploma and prize money of approximately $1.2 million.

“The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize since returning to the White House in January 2025. His latest remarks came after Pillay was selected for her work on international justice and human rights.

Before the announcement, experts in Oslo had questioned Trump’s prospects, citing his approach to Iran, his territorial ambitions concerning Greenland, his hardline immigration policies and his criticism of multilateral institutions and the media.

Pillay Jokes About Sharing Prize With Trump

Pillay responded to the attention surrounding Trump’s Nobel ambitions with a light-hearted remark while receiving congratulations after the announcement.

“If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump,” she told an applauding audience.

Her comment appeared to refer to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 and subsequently gave her Nobel gold medal to Trump.

Trump’s latest criticism adds to his longstanding frustration at not receiving the award, while Pillay’s selection has brought renewed attention to the role of international law and human rights in the Nobel Peace Prize’s recognition of efforts to promote peace.

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