Trump likely among 287 candidates for Nobel Peace Prize
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PRESIDENT Trump poses with the Nobel medal, presented to him by Venezuelan laureate Maria Corina Machado.—File • Pakistani, Israeli, Cambodian leaders claim to have nominated US president; secrecy rules leave bids unconfirmed• 208 individuals, 79 organisations make up diverse list; winner to be announced on Oct 9, with award ceremony in December• Committee raises alarm over jailed Iranian laureate’s health OSLO: The Norwegian Nobel Committee is considering 287 candidates for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, with US President Donald Trump likely among those on the confidential list, the committee’s secretary said on Thursday. Of the nominations submitted by the Jan 31 deadline, 208 are for individuals and 79 are for organisations, said Kristian Berg Harpviken. He noted that the list features a significant number of new names compared to the previous year. “Since I am new in the job, one of the things that has to some extent surprised me is how much renewal there is from year to year on the list,” Harpviken, who has held the position since January 2025, said in an interview. Despite a rise in global conflicts and mounting pressure on international cooperation, the award’s significance has not diminished, he added. “The Peace Prize is even more important in a period like the one we’re living in,” Harpviken said. “There is as much good work, if not more, than ever.” Trump’s nomination The leaders of Cambodia, Israel and Pakistan have publicly stated that they nominated Trump for this year’s prize. If those nominations were formally submitted during the spring and summer of 2025 as indicated, they would be considered valid. However, there is no official way to verify these claims, as the complete list of nominees and nominators remains secret for 50 years. On Thursday, Harpviken declined to confirm whether Trump was on the list. A nomination is not an endorsement from the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Thousands of people worldwide are eligible to submit nominations, including me