By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump lamented his perceived lack of recognition for the Nobel Peace Prize, referencing conflicts he falsely claimed to have resolved. Despite his claims, Trump has ordered bombings in numerous countries, exceeding the record of his predecessors and leading to significant civilian casualties. As a consolation, Trump was awarded the Israel Prize, the nation’s highest cultural honor. His actions, including backing Israel’s war on Gaza and deploying military forces near Venezuela, have drawn further criticism.
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Trump bemoans not winning the Nobel Peace Prize during a hot mic moment, a seemingly ironic complaint considering his actions. The self-proclaimed “most anti-war president in history,” a statement that rings hollow in the face of reality, has a documented history that tells a different story. His administration ordered the bombing of at least nine nations, a figure exceeding that of any other US leader in history, a fact that directly contradicts his claims of peacemaking. And further compounding the irony, he has been an indispensable figure in Israel’s actions in Gaza, where actions are being viewed globally with great concern. The dissonance between his self-perception and his actual conduct is striking.
The entire situation feels almost comical, like a bad satire, when you think about it. Here’s a guy, on a hot mic, presumably unaware of the presence of the press, lamenting about not receiving a peace prize. He’s talking to Netanyahu and other officials, and he’s going on about some unspecified conflicts he supposedly ended. The hubris! The audacity! He wants credit, but apparently, he doesn’t get it. This is followed by a consolation prize of sorts, the Israel Prize, which is, at least, something. And he received the widely derided FIFA Peace Prize. So, it’s not like he’s walking away empty-handed. But still, the Nobel seems to be the coveted goal.
Then there’s the core issue – the wars. He mentioned “eight of them”, probably referring to wars he falsely claims to have ended. But the truth is, he’s been involved in bombings. The bombing of Venezuela, possibly Iran, Syria, Yemen, and the threatening words aimed at Canada and the annexation of Greenland. This paints a picture far removed from the “anti-war” image he attempts to project. This behavior hardly aligns with the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize, which involves actual efforts towards peace and diplomacy.
If this is what “anti-war” looks like, imagine the alternative. The cutting of humanitarian aid, like the USAID cuts, which has led to countless deaths, particularly of children, were never going to win him any friends on the Nobel committee. The threats of war, the support for actions in Gaza, it’s all part of the same picture. It’s hard to reconcile the idea of him being “anti-war” when his actions seem to be the opposite. His desire for power and his comfort in making decisions without being held accountable.
The world is watching, and it’s increasingly difficult to trust that the US is playing a fair game. The next leader has to bring the US back to the international courts, otherwise, it’s going to be a free-for-all. It is absurd that he feels as though he’s entitled to some type of award. The people around him know the truth. They are just in it for their own benefit. There’s a looming power vacuum. The collapse is happening before our eyes. Is it melodramatic? Maybe. But is there some truth there? Absolutely. The lack of accountability and the dissonance between words and actions are what’s truly alarming.
The very definition of war and peace seems to have been warped, especially when used in the context of politics. If you win peace by bombing nations and enabling a genocide, perhaps the prize should go to the dictionary. Then he wants to be recognized, be given accolades, when his actions are so far from those that should be recognized. The fact that the focus is on the awards and not on the consequences of his actions is disturbing.
His actions are the opposite of the idea that Trump would end imperialism and be anti-war. People should be asking why there hasn’t been more backlash. It’s the same old story: say one thing, do the exact opposite. It’s the most basic of political maneuvers. The claim to have ended wars while having bombed nine countries is truly absurd. And the fact that he may actually be starting a war is even worse. He is a fragile person.