Trump And the Nobel Peace Prize

Recall the game of free association where one person shouts, “I say______; You say____.” For example, I say, “Taylor Swift; You say, Singer” You respond with the first thing that comes to mind. “If I say Trump; You say, __________.” The last thing I would say would be peace. How about you? The Nobel Peace Prize is not just about ending a war. Today Marina Corina Machado received the award for promoting democratic rights in Venezuela.

There are many things that the Prize Committee look for in making their choice which we see in their current choice. First, the Prize Committee, like the Fed, does not respond to pressures from outside of its deliberations. Trump seems to say on many occasions that he “deserves” the award. No former prize winners have done that. It is beyond ironic that Netanyahu, a war criminal, should be one of the people to write on Trump’s behalf for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Prize honors those who advance peace, disarmament, and international cooperation. Trump withdrew from the World health Association and the Paris Climate Accord. Noble wanted the nations of the world to be a fraternity of nations specifically with their cooperation with the United Nations. Trump’s policy of isolationism runs directly counter to what the Prize is about. It doesn’t help Trump’s cause from his withdrawing aid and any foreign assistance to poor countries leading to at least fourteen million deaths.

There is little politicking by candidates for the award, and some recipients fall into the category of sustained work of peace, disarmament, and international cooperation.

Given all the above, it is my opinion, that Trump would be the worst candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize for reasons that can be seen so readily. He agreed to change the name of the Department of Defense to Department of War. His and Hegseth’s comments to our brave generals and admirals as a draft dodger were inappropriate. He no longer agreed to follow the rules of engagement, his embrace of the “Warrior Ethos”, and his suggestion that democratic cities could be great settings to train our soldiers in the future are contrary to Alfred Nobel’s guidelines for the Prize.

He is seen by the world as a bully using tariffs to make our allies submit to his bullying and his comments about our soldiers as “suckers” are just the tip of the iceberg. His actions have affected not only our nation but the international community with chaos as he operates from a Trump first policy. His address to the United Nations was divisive and embarrassing.

But his downfall will come from his lies and exaggeration of his actions. He has chosen not a team of rivals but has yes men and women who sing his praises in Cabinet meetings as we watch the devastation that he has wrought.

Ironically an example of all the wars that he has been responsible for being a broker of peace is perhaps his biggest lie. “In the period of just seven months, I have ended seven wars that could not be ended.” He has raised the count to eight. Here are some of those wars below.

India vs. Pakistan – Both countries don’t agree on much except that Trump didn’t end the war. Two militias did. However, Pakistan would write on his behalf to the Noble Prize Committee.

Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. Rwanda – Trump didn’t end anything at all according to Richard Moncrief, Project Director for the International Project Group.

Cambodia vs. Thailand – Trump was involved but was not key to the negotiations to sustain a ceasefire. He was willing to attend the summit in Malaysia but only if he presided over the peacekeeping deal. He wanted to be seen and heard.

Egypt vs. Ethiopia – Both countries have argued over the Nile Water Way, but there was never an armed conflict. He was not involved.

Armenia Vs. Azerbaijan – Trump was helpful but just provided economic ties to America.

Serbia vs. Kosovo – There was no war for Trump to end.

Trump will never accept that there are consequences for his lies and exaggerations to benefit him. Everything is transactional. 50% of Republicans said Trump doesn’t deserve the Nobel Prize. 22% of Americans said that he did. Trump has now declared war on Venezuela as a country responsible for fentanyl smuggling, so he has blown up boats with no evidence or due process. World drug experts have made the point that fentanyl is not smuggled from Venezuela no matter what Trump says.

Trump can threaten everyone with “the biggest destruction that you have ever seen” not because he is courageous but because he is unpredictable which makes him scary. People are afraid of him because he is a creator of chaos. In family therapy there is a type of communicator referred to as the detractor which describes Trump.

When I was studying family therapy, one of my texts was Peoplemaking by Virginia Satir, a world renown expert on family dynamics. She described the distractor as someone who “deflects and disrupts communication throwing other people off balance as well as themselves. It is a serious problem when the family is a nation.” You correct this behavior by recognizing what is going on and find your own feet and values and push back.

“I say Trump! You say______________!”

“I say see a response to Trump’s and Hegseth’s address to the generals below. “Then you say_____________!”

GENERAL'S REACTION TO TRUMP'S AND HEGSETH'S SPEECH