Brief
Trump denounces Nobel laureate Navi Pillay as unknown at Syracuse rally
At a Syracuse rally, Trump said he had never heard of Pillay and condemned the Nobel Committee’s decision.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Donald Trump attacked Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay during a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday night, saying he had never heard of her and calling the award a "disgraceful and embarrassing decision." He also posted a lengthy rebuttal on his Truth Social account later that evening.
What happened
At the rally, Trump claimed the Nobel Committee’s choice was a "mystery" and described Pillay as a "liberal person who works at the United Nations." He asserted that the United States, represented by him as president, should have received the prize instead. After the event, Trump posted a long message on Truth Social reiterating that he knew nothing about Pillay, accusing her of hating Israel, and labeling the Nobel Committee as "radical ideologues" who are "anti‑democracy" and "enemies of civilization." He added that the decision left an "indelible stain on Norway," where the committee is based.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that Trump has long expressed a desire to win a Nobel Prize, even claiming that a previous winner, Maria Corina Machado, gave him hers. It also records Trump’s claim that he stopped eight wars as president and expects to end two more in Iran and Ukraine. The piece mentions Pillay’s earlier joke that she might share the prize with Trump if applause continued, a comment posted on X by Amnesty International’s secretary‑general.
What was said
"Today they gave out the Nobel Peace Prize to a person – I never heard of the person. Nobody did. It's a mystery person," Trump told the rally crowd, according to the Daily Mail.
"The United States of America, represented by me as your President, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn't," he added.
In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "I know nothing about this woman, and neither does anyone else! In fact, to the best of my knowledge, no one ever heard of her other than the fact that she, very obviously, hates Israel." He also said, "This is an indelible stain on Norway, one that will never be forgotten. The Nobel ‘Peace’ Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of Radical Ideologues who are Anti‑Democracy, and Enemies of Civilization!"
How it came about
Trump’s remarks follow the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision on October 9, 2026, to award the Peace Prize to former UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay for her work promoting international law. Earlier Felo coverage documented Trump’s criticism of the committee and his claim that the United States deserved the prize (see Trump blames Norway for ‘indelible stain’ after Nobel peace prize goes to Navi Pillay). Pillay’s light‑hearted comment about sharing the prize with Trump was reported by Felo the day before (see Navi Pillay jokes about sharing Nobel Peace Prize with Trump).
Key facts
- Donald Trump said he had never heard of Nobel laureate Navi Pillay at a Syracuse rally. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Trump called the Nobel Committee "radical ideologues" and said their decision left an "indelible stain on Norway". (dailymail.co.uk)
- Trump posted a lengthy rebuttal on Truth Social after the rally, reiterating his criticism of Pillay and the Nobel prize. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting peace and international law. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Trump rails against Nobel Prize winner, saying his is long overdue”
