Experts to Reuters: Trump unlikely to win Nobel Peace Prize this year

Experts told Reuters that U.S. President Donald Trump will not win this year’s Nobel Peace Prize because of the war he is waging against Iran, but the committee that selects the laureate will still be influenced by his impact on its decision. Haakon Jarle, acting director of the Oslo Peace Research Institute, said the five-member committee would this year consider choosing someone capable of withstanding pressure from Trump. He told Reuters, “I think the events of last year related to the Nobel Peace Prize, and the awarding of the medal to Trump afterward, will influence some of the considerations they take into account.” He added, “One concern the committee may have is whether awarding the prize to someone could expose it to pressure from Donald Trump... I think the committee will consider whether the prize would do more harm than good.” Experts say this could mean awarding the prize to the Pope, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, or Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The winner is scheduled to be announced on October 9. The awarding of last year’s prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was unique in the 125-year history of the Nobel Peace Prize, coming amid repeated pressure from Trump to receive the award. Weeks later, Machado handed her gold Nobel medal to Trump in an attempt to gain support for her efforts to establish democracy in Venezuela.