Trump, Nobel Peace Prize winner? This is the number of Americans who have won the award throughout history

Only four U.S. presidents in history have earned the Nobel Peace Prize—each for advancing peace in different ways, and each surrounded by controversy.

Modified on:
October 8, 2025 8:37 pm

Nobel the peace prize and the American presidents

A few of the American presidents have, at some point, been considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. Some of these presidents include Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and George W. Bush. The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious awards globally and is given to individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to promoting peace, democracy, human rights, or international cooperation.

Still, in spite of all the American presidents who have been nominated, only four of them have ever been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. And even more surprisingly, only three did so in office. Each had their victory shadowed by honour—and not seldom by scandal.

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Theodore Roosevelt: The first presidential winner

In 1906, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, became the first U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt won the prize for his work in negotiating a peace agreement that terminated the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt ushered peace between the two nations, much to the admiration of the world.

But his triumph was criticised. There were those who saw Roosevelt as a militarist, pointing to his warlike foreign policy and American occupation of the Philippines. Even Swedish newspapers at the time published that Alfred Nobel himself would have been “turning in his grave” over the choice.

In his acceptance speech, Roosevelt took the chance to call for the creation of a “League of Peace”, an early idea of what would evolve into the League of Nations—the precursor to the United Nations today.

Woodrow Wilson: Architect of the league of nations

Then there was Woodrow Wilson, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for being instrumental in establishing the League of Nations after World War I. The League was established to avoid future worldwide conflicts through diplomacy and cooperation.

Wilson’s legendary “Fourteen Points” speech established his vision for lasting peace and self-rule for countries. However, back home in the United States, his vision was met with adamant opposition. Congress voted down U.S. membership in the League, effectively stripping its authority.

Nevertheless, Wilson’s honor cemented his place as one of the most outstanding peace promoters of the early 20th century.

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Jimmy Carter: Peace in the middle east

More than five decades later, Jimmy Carter was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, years following his presidency. The Nobel Committee praised his decades of efforts in promoting peace, human rights, and democracy through his work at The Carter Center.

Carter was also a key player in facilitating the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978, a pivotal Middle East peace agreement.

While his honor was widely applauded, some regarded it as a political thing—a way of condemning the foreign policy of the George W. Bush presidency, which was then fighting the Iraq War.

Barack Obama: A divisive honor

The most recent U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Barack Obama, who was awarded the prize in 2009, several months short of a year into his presidency. The Nobel Committee indicated he was chosen for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

While Obama’s award was highly controversial, some of the critics thought it was too early, because he had not yet achieved major peacemaking milestones at that moment of his term. Others believed that the prize recognised his diplomatic tone and his determination to recreate global connections after years of global tension.

Obama continued on to express that he was “surprised and humbled” by the distinction and received it as a “call to action” rather than for his current work. 

Will Trump be included on the list?

Former President Donald Trump has been shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize more than once—mostly for his administration’s efforts at brokering peace agreements between Israel and several Arab states. But nomination does not guarantee victory.

If Trump were ever elected, he would be the fifth U.S. president on this exclusive list—a roll call which is one of accomplishment as well as scandal in the international search for peace.

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Emem Ukpong
Emem Ukponghttps://polifinus.com/author/emem-uk/
My journey to becoming a writer has been shaped by both science and finance. I began with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, but I found myself drawn to the economic and financial sphere. I have collaborated with various organizations, creating articles and blogs about these essential topics. Currently, I cover financial trends, economic updates, and social welfare topics for Polifinus, ensuring that our content reaches those who need it most.

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