Norway braces for Trump backlash if he fails to win the Nobel Peace Prize

As the Nobel Peace Prize announcement draws near, Norway is on alert for potential backlash from US President Donald Trump if he fails to secure the prestigious award.

Trump, who has long claimed credit for international peace efforts, has repeatedly suggested he deserves the honour, an assertion that has placed Norwegian officials and security services on edge.

The Nobel Committee is set to announce this year’s laureate on Friday in Oslo. While the committee traditionally maintains strict secrecy around its deliberations, Trump’s vocal campaign for recognition has injected an unusual degree of political tension into the process.

Norwegian authorities are reportedly preparing for a range of scenarios in the wake of the decision, including an online backlash from Trump’s supporters and a possible surge in misinformation.

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According to Bloomberg, officials are concerned that any suggestion of bias or political interference could provoke a strong reaction from Trump, who has in the past accused international institutions of conspiring against him.

Trump has repeatedly cited his role in brokering the Abraham Accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab nations as evidence of his eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize.

His allies have also amplified the narrative that his diplomatic efforts were underappreciated, contrasting them with President Joe Biden’s foreign policy approach.

Analysts say that while Trump’s nomination for the peace prize is not without precedent, his public campaign for it is highly unconventional. “It’s rare for a nominee to lobby so openly,” a European political observer told The Guardian, adding that such behaviour risks politicising a process meant to remain impartial and independent.

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Meanwhile, Norway’s Nobel Committee has refrained from commenting on any individual candidate, in line with its longstanding policy of confidentiality. Officials in Oslo, however, acknowledge that this year’s decision carries “unusual sensitivities” given the potential diplomatic and public relations fallout.

As anticipation builds, the outcome whether or not Trump’s name is called — could have repercussions beyond Oslo, testing the resilience of the Nobel Committee’s apolitical reputation in an increasingly polarised global climate.