As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to publicly express frustration over not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, he has once again pointed to his self-claimed diplomatic successes as proof of deserving the world’s most prestigious peace honour.
As of date only four US Presidents and one Vice President has been recognised with the honour since its inception.
Each of them earned the prize under vastly different historical circumstances, often after significant international consensus and, at times, long-standing public service.
Theodore Roosevelt (1906)
The first U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. He was honoured for mediating the peace settlement between Russia and Japan through the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the 1904–05 Russo-Japanese War.
Also Read: 'I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between India and Pakistan': Trump does it again
Roosevelt’s intervention was significant in halting hostilities in East Asia and marked a turning point in U.S. global diplomacy. Despite the award, critics of the time questioned Roosevelt’s broader imperialist policies.
Woodrow Wilson (1919)
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Peace Prize for his role in ending World War I and founding the League of Nations, the first global intergovernmental organisation aimed at maintaining peace.
Although Wilson’s vision helped shape the post-war order, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty, and the U.S. never joined the League. The prize, presented in 1920, reflected both Wilson’s aspirations and the limitations of U.S. isolationism at the time.
Jimmy Carter (2002)
Former President Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002—21 years after leaving office. The Nobel Committee recognised his decades-long work in advancing human rights, promoting democracy, and facilitating peaceful conflict resolution globally. His post-presidency work through
Also Read: 6 times in one post- Trump brings up Nobel Peace Prize again and again
The Carter Center, including efforts in global disease eradication and free elections, contributed to the honour. Carter had earlier facilitated the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel during his presidency.
Barack Obama (2009)
Barack Obama was awarded the Peace Prize in 2009, less than a year into his presidency. The Nobel Committee cited his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” and for promoting nuclear non-proliferation.
However, the decision sparked global debate, with critics pointing to his limited record at the time. The prize was seen by many as an encouragement for future action rather than a reward for past achievement.
Al Gore (2007)
Although not a U.S. president, former Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The prize recognised their joint efforts in raising awareness about global warming and pushing for action against climate change. Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth and his international campaigning were central to the award.
Trump’s case
President Trump has been nominated multiple times, for the 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024 Peace Prizes, for a series of diplomatic moves, including the Abraham Accords, which normalised ties between Israel and several Arab states, and his summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In 2025, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa officially nominated Trump for the prize.
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over not receiving the award. In his latest social media post, Trump said, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me.”
He also referenced his claimed role in preventing a war between India and Pakistan and in easing tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile dam.
As of date only four US Presidents and one Vice President has been recognised with the honour since its inception.
Each of them earned the prize under vastly different historical circumstances, often after significant international consensus and, at times, long-standing public service.
Theodore Roosevelt (1906)
The first U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. He was honoured for mediating the peace settlement between Russia and Japan through the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the 1904–05 Russo-Japanese War.
Also Read: 'I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between India and Pakistan': Trump does it again
Roosevelt’s intervention was significant in halting hostilities in East Asia and marked a turning point in U.S. global diplomacy. Despite the award, critics of the time questioned Roosevelt’s broader imperialist policies.
Woodrow Wilson (1919)
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Peace Prize for his role in ending World War I and founding the League of Nations, the first global intergovernmental organisation aimed at maintaining peace.
Although Wilson’s vision helped shape the post-war order, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty, and the U.S. never joined the League. The prize, presented in 1920, reflected both Wilson’s aspirations and the limitations of U.S. isolationism at the time.
Jimmy Carter (2002)
Former President Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002—21 years after leaving office. The Nobel Committee recognised his decades-long work in advancing human rights, promoting democracy, and facilitating peaceful conflict resolution globally. His post-presidency work through
Also Read: 6 times in one post- Trump brings up Nobel Peace Prize again and again
The Carter Center, including efforts in global disease eradication and free elections, contributed to the honour. Carter had earlier facilitated the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel during his presidency.
Barack Obama (2009)
Barack Obama was awarded the Peace Prize in 2009, less than a year into his presidency. The Nobel Committee cited his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” and for promoting nuclear non-proliferation.
However, the decision sparked global debate, with critics pointing to his limited record at the time. The prize was seen by many as an encouragement for future action rather than a reward for past achievement.
Al Gore (2007)
Although not a U.S. president, former Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The prize recognised their joint efforts in raising awareness about global warming and pushing for action against climate change. Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth and his international campaigning were central to the award.
Trump’s case
President Trump has been nominated multiple times, for the 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024 Peace Prizes, for a series of diplomatic moves, including the Abraham Accords, which normalised ties between Israel and several Arab states, and his summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In 2025, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa officially nominated Trump for the prize.
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over not receiving the award. In his latest social media post, Trump said, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me.”
He also referenced his claimed role in preventing a war between India and Pakistan and in easing tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile dam.
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