US President Donald Trump had insisted last week that he was a prime contender for a Nobel Peace Prize — citing efforts to ‘stop’ multiple wars and negotiate ceasefire treaties. The remarks came even as the US debated whether to join the Israel-Iran war, and India repeatedly clarified that the US had played no role in negotiating peace with Pakistan. But others appeared to agree with the POTUS, and Trump found himself nominated for the coveted medal mere hours before the US airstrikes in Iran.
The Nobel Prize hopeful however suffered a significant blow this week after a senior Ukrainian lawmaker withdrew his nomination on Monday. Meanwhile Pakistani lawmakers are now clamouring for the government to withdraw its nomination — with one accusing Trump of having the “blood of Palestinians, Iraqis and Afghans on his hands”.
According to a Newsweek report, Oleksandr Merezhko had submitted his nomination withdrawal on Monday morning after “losing any sort of faith and belief” in Trump and his ability to secure a ceasefire between Moscow and Ukraine. The head of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign committee also accused Trump of “choosing to appease the aggressor” in his letter to the Committee.
Pakistani politicians appeared to share the sentiment as tensions in the middle east escalated sharply over the weekend. The nomination of Trump had come mere hours before he greenlit three airstrikes using ‘bunker-buster bombs’ and targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government is now facing growing pressure to rescind its vote of confidence.
“Since Trump is no longer a potential peacemaker, but a leader who has willfully unleashed an illegal war, Pakistan government must now review, rescind and revoke his Nobel nomination! He is trapped by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ) Netanyahu and the Israeli war lobby, committing the “biggest blunder of his presidency” Trump will now end up presiding over the decline of America!” former senator Mushahid Hussain wrote on X.
veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that the government take back its decision.
“President Trump’s claim of peace has proven to be false; the proposal for the Nobel Prize should be withdrawn. Trump has supported the Israeli attacks on Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. How can this be a sign of peace? With the blood of Afghans and Palestinians on America’s hands, how can he claim to be a proponent of peace?” added Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Despite the recent criticism, Trump appears to remain firm in his Nobel convictions. The US President took some time out to re-post a call to action from American conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Tuesday amid elaborate ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Iran as well as a NATO summit.
“President Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize,” read the succinct post reshared by the POTUS.