US President Donald Trump has described Norway’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize as a “disgraceful and embarrassing decision,” saying it has left an “indelible stain” on the country.
Trump made the remarks on Friday, hours after the Nobel committee announced this year’s award to Navi Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge who oversaw a United Nations report that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, Trump dismissed Pillay as a “mystery person,” questioning her recognition for the prestigious peace award.
“I never heard of the person. Nobody did,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly expressed disappointment over his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, including during his presidency, and has frequently highlighted what he considers his role in resolving international conflicts.
“This is an indelible stain on the country of Norway and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision,” he said.
The US president listed several international disputes he claimed to have helped resolve, including tensions between North and South Korea, Japan and North Korea, as well as China and Taiwan.
However, he did not provide evidence to support his claims of preventing wars between the countries.
Trump also accused those responsible for the Nobel Peace Prize decision of undermining the credibility of the award, describing them as opponents of democracy.
“The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilization. And we will not forget, Norway,” he said.