US President Donald Trump has criticized the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, calling it "embarrassing" and an "indelible stain" on Norway, according to De Telegraaf. Trump also said that "nobody knows her," the Dutch newspaper reported.
The award to Pillay, a former judge at the International Criminal Court, has drawn sharp reactions beyond Washington. Israel condemned the decision, with one response cited by NU saying that "Goebbels is clapping from hell." The criticism reflects broader objections to Pillay's record at the ICC, though the source material does not detail specific grievances.
Pillay herself responded with surprise upon learning of the award while in a courtroom, according to AD.nl. She said she might share the prize with Trump, the outlet reported.
The Nobel Committee's choice has also been defended. NRC described the peace prize for Pillay as the strongest possible signal in support of the international legal order. Omroep West noted her background as a former ICC judge in reporting the award.
The contrasting reactions — from the US president's condemnation to Israel's harsh criticism to Pillay's own lighthearted remark — underscore how divisive the selection has proven. The Nobel Committee has not issued a public response to the criticism in the reporting summarized here.
What to watch next: whether the Nobel Committee or Pillay issues a formal statement addressing the backlash, and how the controversy affects broader debates over international courts.
