Obama last sitting US president to win Nobel Peace prize: Why did he receive the award

Obama was eight months into his first term when he received the prestigious award in 2009.

Amid US President Doanld Trump repeatedly expressing that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping “eight wars” in eight months, Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado on Friday was declared as the winner.

The last sitting US president to get the peace award was Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama. Hours before the award was announced, Trump said that Obama was only a few months into his presidency when he won the Nobel.

"He got it for doing nothing. Obama got a prize - he didn't even know what - he got elected, and they gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country," Trump said. "I've stopped eight wars, so that's never happened before - but they'll have to do what they do. 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.”

Obama was eight months into his first term when he received the prestigious award in 2009.

Why did Obama win the Nobel prize?

The Nobel Committee had lauded Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.  Emphasis was also given to his support - in word and deed - for the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons".

“Even before the election, Obama had advocated dialogue and cooperation across national, ethnic, religious and political dividing lines. As President, he called for a new start to relations between the Muslim world and the West based on common interests and mutual understanding and respect. In accordance with a promise he made during his election campaign, he set in motion a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. occupying forces from Iraq,” according to the official website of The Nobel Peace Prize.

The website stated that during his first year in power, Obama showed himself to be a strong spokesman for human rights and democracy, and as a constructive supporter of the work being done to put effective measures in place to combat the climate crisis. “This is in line with his appeal: “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges,” it stated.

After winning the prize, Obama said he was "surprised and deeply humbled" and promised to accept the honour as a "call to action" to meet the challenges ahead in his presidency.

At a short White House speech, Obama said he did not view the surprise award as a recognition of his own accomplishments, but rather as a recognition of goals he has set for the United States and the world.