Will Trump Get Nobel Peace Prize-As the world awaits the announcement of this year’s Nobel Prize winners, an unexpected controversy has surfaced — one involving former U.S. President Donald Trump. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Physics, and Economics, has warned that academic freedom is increasingly under threat, citing political interference in the United States and other countries.
The timing of this warning has intensified public debate around Trump’s repeated claims that he “deserves” the Nobel Peace Prize, despite criticism of his recent policies that many argue could undermine education and research worldwide.
Swedish Academy Raises Alarm on Academic Freedom
Ylva Engström, Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, told Reuters that measures introduced by Trump’s administration could have “devastating effects” on global academic independence.
“I think in both the short and long term, it can have devastating effects,” Engström said. “Academic freedom is one of the pillars of the democratic system.”
Her comments come just as the Nobel committees prepare to reveal the 2025 laureates in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics — prizes founded by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895. Each award carries a prize of 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.2 million).
Trump’s Policies Stir Global Concern
Since returning to office, Trump has proposed a series of education and research reforms that critics say would damage America’s intellectual foundations. His plans include cutting funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — the world’s largest source of biomedical research funding — and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education in favor of giving more control to individual states.
His administration has also indicated that federal grants will favor “patriotic education” initiatives and limit international undergraduate enrollments to 15%.
Engström warned that such actions could deeply impact global science:
“For research, it’s going to be a big dip in what American scientists can do and what they are allowed to do, what they can publish, and what they can get money for. So this is going to have big effects,” she said.
The White House, however, defended the administration’s stance. In an emailed statement, officials said the reforms are aimed at reducing “waste, fraud, and abuse” in research and visa programs while “strengthening American scientific innovation and global leadership.”
Nobel Context: Science and Politics Collide
The Nobel Prizes have long been seen as the highest recognition of human achievement in science, literature, and peace. However, this year’s discussions have taken a political turn as Trump’s policies — and his own Nobel ambitions — draw attention.
Over the years, Trump has repeatedly stated that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts, particularly related to Middle East peace talks and the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations.
Yet many analysts believe his recent confrontations with universities and funding agencies may weaken any moral or symbolic claim to the award. Trump has openly clashed with prestigious American universities — several of which have produced past Nobel laureates — over issues like campus diversity, pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and transgender inclusion policies.
Also read: Nobel Prizes 2025: World Awaits New Champions of Science, Peace, and Literature
Experts: Policy Changes May Harm Innovation
Nobel laureates and economists have also voiced concern about the impact of Trump’s decisions on the U.S. economy and innovation landscape.
Simon Johnson, the British-born American economist who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, said the administration’s policies would “unambiguously harm” job creation and long-term prosperity.
“These policies are absolutely, unambiguously very negative and particularly for job creation,” said Johnson, a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. “All engineering and science-type activities, I think, are going to be affected. Life Sciences is a particularly dynamic sector at the moment and the NIH is being targeted with truly massive cuts.”
Will Trump Get Nobel Peace Prize? Experts Doubt It
Despite Trump’s confidence that his foreign policy record merits global recognition, experts believe his chances of winning the Nobel Peace Prize remain extremely slim.
The Nobel Committee for Peace, based in Oslo, considers global diplomatic impact, humanitarian progress, and long-term contributions to peace. Political analysts point out that Trump’s divisive domestic agenda and combative rhetoric on international issues may not align with the committee’s criteria.
Still, Trump’s influence looms large. His name continues to dominate discussions surrounding the Nobel season — both for his controversial policies and his relentless pursuit of recognition.
Also read: Nobel 2025: Dates, Schedule, and How the Winners Are Chosen
Conclusion: Politics Meets the Pursuit of Peace
As the Nobel announcements draw near, the global spotlight is once again on Donald Trump — not for a victory, but for the tension his administration has sparked in the world of science and academia.
Whether or not Trump gets the Nobel Peace Prize, one thing is clear: the debate around his leadership and its effects on research freedom will continue to shape global discourse long after the Nobel medals are handed out.
