U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Barack Obama for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming that unlike his predecessor, he actually earned the right to one through real diplomatic achievements.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday alongside the Prime Minister of Finland, Trump expressed disbelief that Obama won the prestigious award in 2009, barely eight months into his presidency.
“He got a prize for doing nothing,” Trump told reporters. “They gave it to Obama for absolutely nothing but destroying our country.”
The comments came just hours after Trump announced what he described as a “historic U.S.-brokered peace deal”between Israel and Hamas, ending two years of bloodshed in Gaza.
The deal, which stunned much of the international community, reportedly marks a complete ceasefire between the two sides.
According to the president, the agreement brings an end to a devastating conflict that has claimed more than 70,000 Palestinian lives since the October 7 attacks, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 others taken hostage by Hamas.
“I’ve stopped eight wars, so that’s never happened before but they’ll have to do what they do,” Trump said, referring to the Nobel Committee. “Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives.”
Trump confirmed that he plans to travel to Egypt in the coming days for the official signing of the peace agreement, adding,
“I’ll be there.”
Chief Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya confirmed the truce, saying: “We have received assurances from the brotherly mediators and the U.S. administration, who have confirmed that the war is completely over.”
The White House revealed that the remaining hostages, believed to be around 20 survivors, will be released to Israel on Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile, political analysts described the deal as one of the most unexpected foreign policy breakthroughs in years, comparing it to previous Middle East peace efforts led by U.S. presidents such as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is expected to be announced today in Oslo, Norway.
Despite his latest achievement, Trump remains a long shot for the award, with only a 5% chance according to prediction market Kalshi.
