U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna nominated President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2025, citing his role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement signed August 8, 2025. The nomination lands amid renewed scrutiny of whether Trump could ever claim the prize that Barack Obama received in 2009 — and how the two cases compare.

Nobel Peace Prize since: 1901 · US Presidents awarded: 4 (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama) · Obama’s win year: 2009 · Trump Nobel status: Not awarded

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether Trump will receive the 2026 prize
  • Full official list of 2026 nominees from Nobel Institute
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Norwegian Nobel Committee reviews nominations and selects winner
  • Result announced publicly in October 2026

The table below summarizes the key milestones for Trump’s Nobel prospects alongside the historical record of U.S. presidential winners.

Key facts about Trump’s Nobel prospects and US presidential winners
Label Value
Awarded to Trump? No
Obama win year 2009
Nobel committee location Norway
Recent Trump claim date January 19, 2026
Theodore Roosevelt Nobel year 1906
Woodrow Wilson Nobel year 1919

Has Trump received the Nobel Peace Prize?

No — Donald Trump has not received the Nobel Peace Prize to date. Multiple nominations for the 2026 prize have been submitted, but the Norwegian Nobel Committee has not awarded him.

Trump’s nomination history

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) formally nominated President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2025. Luna’s nomination cited Trump’s role in brokering a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas through engagement with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement signed August 8, 2025, ending decades of hostility.

Representatives Claudia Tenney also nominated Trump for the Abraham Accords and peace through strength. Lithuanian lawmakers Ignas Vėgėlė, Rimas Jonas Jankūnas, and Petras Gražulis nominated Trump for mediation efforts that reportedly helped release over 300 political prisoners in Belarus.

Reasons for non-award

The Nobel Peace Prize selection process is confidential for 50 years, and the committee considers hundreds of nominations each year. Trump has been nominated multiple times, but the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee makes the final decision based on criteria including the practical enhancement of peace.

The catch

Nominations require specific justification submitted to the Norwegian Nobel Institute, but nomination alone carries no guarantee of award. The committee weighs broader geopolitical context — and past Trump nominations did not result in prizes.

Which American president has received the Nobel Peace Prize?

Four U.S. presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002), and Barack Obama (2009). Obama was the fourth, following a pattern spanning more than a century of American presidents recognized for diplomatic efforts.

Barack Obama 2009

Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009, for efforts in nuclear nonproliferation and fostering a new climate in international relations. His Nobel citation emphasized reaching out to the Muslim world and his broader vision for international cooperation. Obama accepted the prize in Oslo on December 10, 2009, and delivered his Nobel Lecture at Oslo City Hall, introduced by Thorbjørn Jagland.

Norwegian Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjørn Jagland rejected claims that Obama received the prize too early, stating the committee stands by its decision. Norway’s PM Jens Stoltenberg at the time said the prize recognized Obama’s power to contribute to peace.

Other US winners

Theodore Roosevelt won in 1906 for his mediation in the Russo-Japanese War. Woodrow Wilson received the prize in 1919 for his role in establishing the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter was awarded in 2002, 21 years after leaving office, for decades of work in conflict resolution, human rights, and democracy building.

Jimmy Carter himself called Obama’s 2009 award “a bold statement of international support” for Obama’s vision and commitment. However, Republican Chairman Michael Steele offered a contrasting view, criticizing the award as based on “star power” rather than concrete achievements at that point in Obama’s presidency.

Why this matters

The range of US presidential winners spans from Roosevelt’s wartime mediation (1906) to Carter’s post-presidency humanitarian work (2002). Obama remains the only winner awarded while still in office, setting a precedent that critics argued was premature.

Did Barack Obama receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

Yes — Barack Obama officially received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. The award was announced October 9, 2009, and presented December 10, 2009, at the Oslo ceremony.

Details of 2009 award

Obama’s Nobel Lecture, delivered December 10, 2009, acknowledged the irony of receiving the peace prize while serving as Commander-in-Chief during two ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He stated, “I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility.” The Nelson Mandela Foundation supported his award, citing his efforts in peace and poverty eradication.

Controversies

The 2009 award generated significant controversy. Critics including Republican Chairman Michael Steele argued it rewarded potential rather than accomplishment. Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjørn Jagland defended the selection, emphasizing that the prize often recognizes the potential to influence peace, not just completed achievements.

Robert Gibbs, Obama’s White House press secretary, learned of the award from reporters on October 9, 2009, reflecting the surprise that greeted the announcement both domestically and internationally.

Will Trump receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

As of early 2026, Trump has not received the Nobel Peace Prize. Multiple nominations for the 2026 award have been submitted, but whether he ultimately receives the prize remains uncertain until the Norwegian Nobel Committee makes its announcement.

2025 and 2026 predictions

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 10, 2026, by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Nominations closed earlier in 2025, and the committee is currently reviewing submissions alongside other prominent candidates including Greta Thunberg, who was nominated by Frøya Sjursæther for efforts in peace, justice, Gaza, climate, and indigenous peoples.

Trump has been nominated by multiple legislators from different countries for various diplomatic achievements, but the committee operates independently and does not comment publicly on nominees.

Recent nominations

Representatives Luna and Tenney both submitted nominations in 2025, citing Trump’s diplomatic initiatives including the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement. These nominations represent ongoing political support for recognizing Trump’s international engagement, though nomination does not ensure award.

What to watch

The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s deliberations remain sealed for 50 years. Until an official announcement, any prediction about Trump’s chances remains speculative regardless of nomination counts or supporting statements.

Who has refused the Nobel Peace Prize?

Two people have refused the Nobel Peace Prize: Jean-Paul Sartre (1964) and Le Duc Tho (1973). Both declined the honor — Sartre in protest of all honors regardless of source, and Le Duc Tho in protest of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Notable refusals

Jean-Paul Sartre, the French philosopher and writer, was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature but refused it, stating he would not accept honors from institutions he opposed. He declined without explanation beyond his philosophical objection to being institutionalized by such recognition.

Historical cases

Le Duc Tho, the North Vietnamese politician, was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Henry Kissinger but declined, issuing a statement criticizing the U.S. government’s continued military operations in Vietnam at the time of the award.

These refusals remain the only two cases in Nobel Peace Prize history. No U.S. president has ever refused the award, and Trump has neither received nor refused the prize to date.

Bottom line: Trump has not won the Nobel Peace Prize despite multiple 2026 nominations from U.S. and international legislators citing recent diplomatic achievements. Four U.S. presidents have received the award, with Obama’s 2009 selection remaining the most recent and controversial. For Trump to claim the prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee must select him when it announces the 2026 winner on October 10, 2026 — a decision that remains entirely uncertain.

Timeline

1906Theodore Roosevelt wins Nobel Peace Prize
1919Woodrow Wilson wins Nobel Peace Prize
2002Jimmy Carter wins Nobel Peace Prize
October 9, 2009Barack Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize
December 10, 2009Obama delivers Nobel Lecture in Oslo
August 8, 2025Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement signed
October 9, 2025Rep. Luna nominates Trump for 2026 prize
October 10, 20262026 Nobel Peace Prize announcement

Clarity on the record

What we know

  • Trump has not received the Nobel Peace Prize (Rep. Luna Official Site)
  • Obama won on October 9, 2009 (Wikipedia)
  • Four U.S. presidents have received the award (Wikipedia)
  • Multiple 2026 nominations submitted for Trump (Wikipedia)
  • 2026 winner announced October 10, 2026 (Wikipedia)

What remains uncertain

  • Whether Trump will receive the 2026 prize
  • Full official 2026 nominee list from Nobel Institute
  • Committee’s internal deliberations
  • Specific outcomes Trump nominators cite

Voices from the record

“I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility.”

— Barack Obama, Nobel Lecture, December 10, 2009 (NobelPrize.org)

“The exciting and important thing about this prize is that it’s given to someone who has the power to contribute to peace.”

— Jens Stoltenberg, Norway Prime Minister (LAist)

“A bold statement of international support for [Obama’s] vision and commitment.”

— Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President, Nobel Laureate (LAist)

The comparison between Trump’s ongoing nominations and Obama’s 2009 award exposes a persistent tension in Nobel Peace Prize history: should the honor recognize completed achievements or future potential? Obama received the prize while presiding over two active wars. Trump seeks recognition for ceasefires and prisoner releases that occurred during his administration. The Norwegian Nobel Committee will make its determination in October 2026, but the debate over what deserves the world’s most prestigious peace honor will continue regardless.

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Rep. Luna’s recent nomination adds to the at least a dozen formal bids Trump has received detailed nomination facts for diplomatic feats like recent ceasefires, though he has yet to claim the prize.

Frequently asked questions

How many times has Trump been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Multiple nominations for the 2026 prize have been submitted, including from Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Claudia Tenney, as well as Lithuanian lawmakers. Exact historical nomination counts vary by source.

How many U.S. presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Four U.S. presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002), and Barack Obama (2009).

Who selects the Nobel Peace Prize winner?

The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, selects the winner. The committee reviews nominations submitted to the Norwegian Nobel Institute and maintains confidential deliberations.

Has anyone refused the Nobel Peace Prize?

Two people have refused the Nobel Peace Prize: Jean-Paul Sartre (1964) and Le Duc Tho (1973). No U.S. president has ever received and declined the award.

When is the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize announced?

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 10, 2026, by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo.

Why did Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009?

Obama was awarded for efforts in nuclear nonproliferation and fostering a new climate in international relations. The Nobel citation also emphasized his outreach to the Muslim world. The decision was controversial, with critics arguing it was premature given ongoing military conflicts.

What achievements led to Trump’s 2026 nominations?

Nominators cited Trump’s role in brokering a historic Israel-Hamas ceasefire through engagement with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement signed August 8, 2025, ending decades of hostility.