The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a former judge at the International Criminal Court, according to Reuters. The announcement drew a sharp response from President Donald Trump, who had been seen as a contender for the award.
The Washington Post reported that Trump reacted with anger toward Norway after failing to win, describing the outcome as a "stain" on the country. Axios also reported that Trump raged over the loss, while The Hill reported he said he "should have won" and that the prize is "forever discredited."
The reaction extended beyond Washington. The New York Times reported that Israel denounced the decision to give the award to Pillay.
Norway is the home of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the body that selects the peace laureate each year. The prize announcement on Saturday placed Pillay, whose career included service as an international judge, at the center of a rapidly widening political dispute.
Trump's public complaints about the committee's choice, and Israel's rejection of the outcome, have turned this year's award into a contested political story rather than a purely ceremonial one.
What to watch next: whether the Norwegian Nobel Committee or Pillay responds publicly to the criticism from Trump and Israel.
