Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated Donald Trump for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, citing the former U.S. president’s role in recent Middle East diplomacy and ceasefire efforts. The move is sparking global buzz—and raising a big question: what actually happens next? Let’s break down how Nobel nominations work, why this matters, and whether Trump stands a real shot.
Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
| Takeaway | Stat/Fact |
|---|---|
| Trump has 3 known 2025 nominations | From Israel, Pakistan, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter |
| The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced October 10, 2025 | Ceremony follows on December 10 |
| Over 330 candidates are in the running for 2025 | Names remain secret for 50 years |
Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination isn’t unprecedented—but this one has extra weight. Coming from a current head of government (and longtime ally), it links his candidacy to active diplomatic moves, not just past achievements.
Whether the Nobel Committee agrees remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: this nomination just turned an already volatile geopolitical year up another notch.
Why Netanyahu Did It—and What He Said
During a July 7 dinner at the White House, Netanyahu handed Trump a formal nomination letter. He credited Trump with “advancing peace in one country, in one region after the other,” alluding to recent ceasefire talks in Gaza and renewed Arab-Israeli normalization efforts.
This wasn’t a one-off: earlier in June, Pakistan’s foreign ministry also submitted a nomination, praising Trump for de-escalating tensions in South Asia. Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter joined in too, citing Trump’s Abraham Accords legacy.
How Nobel Peace Prize Nominations Work
Trump’s nomination might feel splashy, but it kicks off a fairly buttoned-up process:
- Valid Nominations Collected — January 31 was the cutoff for 2025. Israel and Pakistan met it.
- Confidential Review — The Nobel Committee evaluates candidates from March through September.
- Winner Announced — On October 10, 2025, the committee will go public with its choice.
- Award Ceremony — Held in Oslo on December 10, honoring Nobel’s legacy.
Fun fact: nominators include heads of state, parliamentarians, professors, and previous laureates. And while anyone can be nominated, winning is a whole other matter.
What the Committee Actually Looks For
Alfred Nobel’s will laid it out clearly: the Peace Prize should go to the person or group that has done “the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” In other words, it’s not about popularity or partisanship—it’s about global impact.
Does Trump Have a Real Shot?
That depends on how the committee weighs a few things:
- Diplomatic Legacy: Trump helped broker the Abraham Accords and is tied to a potential new Saudi-Israel deal in the works.
- Recent Moves: Netanyahu linked his nomination to Trump’s role in halting the latest Gaza conflict and opening new talks with Iran.
- Polarization Risk: Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric and past military strikes could undercut Nobel values.
As someone who covered Trump’s 2020 nomination by a Norwegian MP, I can tell you the committee takes a cautious, apolitical view. They often favor long-term, broadly accepted peace-building over short-term deal-making.
What Comes Next?
| Milestone | Date | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Final evaluations | July–September 2025 | Nobel committee studies each nominee |
| Winner announcement | October 10, 2025 | One name will be revealed |
| Award ceremony | December 10, 2025 | Held in Oslo, Norway |
Expect the shortlist to remain private. Most details stay under wraps until 2075.
