Most Americans say Trump doesn’t deserve Nobel Peace Prize

US President Donald Trump (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll finds that 76 percent of Americans believe US President Donald Trump does not deserve to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Only 22 percent say he does. The results come as Trump intensifies his campaign to secure the award, making it a frequent theme in his speeches and public appearances.

Disapproval tied to foreign policy handling

The survey shows Trump’s push for recognition is undercut by his low approval ratings on foreign policy. Sixty percent of Americans disapprove of how he has handled the Russia-Ukraine war, while 58 percent disapprove of his management of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. These figures suggest scepticism about his role as a global peacemaker.

Republicans divided, Democrats dismissive

Even within his own party, views on Trump’s Nobel prospects are mixed. Forty-nine percent of Republicans say he deserves the honour, while another 49 percent say he does not. Among independents, just 14 percent support Trump receiving the prize, and only 3 percent of Democrats agree. The results highlight a stark partisan divide but also show that many Republicans remain unconvinced.

Obama’s prize remains controversial too

The poll also revisits former president Barack Obama’s 2009 Nobel Prize, which many at the time considered premature. Fifty-four percent of respondents said Obama didn’t deserve the award, echoing past polling that showed 61 percent of Americans were sceptical when he first won. The comparison underscores the long-running debate over whether political leaders deserve Nobel recognition.

Trump’s UN speech raises the stakes

At the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump repeated his claim that he has resolved seven global conflicts. He suggested that brokering peace in Ukraine could secure him the prize and warned Russia of “a very strong round of powerful tariffs” if negotiations do not advance. The remarks reflect how closely Trump ties the award to his broader foreign policy agenda.

Nobel committee members critical of Trump

Ultimately, the decision rests with the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, where Trump faces significant hurdles. At least three members have publicly criticized him. The committee’s chairman has condemned Trump’s attacks on the media, while another member accused him of “dismantling American democracy.” These statements make clear that Trump’s pursuit of the prize is unlikely to find favour with the group.

How the poll was conducted

The Post-Ipsos survey was conducted online between Sept. 11 and 15 among 2,513 US adults. Respondents were drawn from Ipsos’s KnowledgePanel, which recruits households by mail using random sampling methods. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.