"Ask the White House": India responds to questions on Nobel Peace Prize for Trump

Highlights

• India distances itself from White House remarks supporting a Nobel Peace Prize for Donald Trump
  
• MEA says the White House is best placed to answer related questions
  
• Trump and Pakistan claim he helped mediate India-Pakistan tensions, which India denies
  
• Pakistan formally nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
  
• The Norwegian Nobel Committee has not responded publicly to the nomination
  

India has dismissed questions regarding the White House’s recent endorsement of former US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, including claims that he helped mediate peace between India and Pakistan.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked about the White House remarks during a press briefing on Friday, said:
“It is better to take this question to the White House.”

His brief response came hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt advocated for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, asserting that the former president ended several international conflicts during his term.

White House claims Trump 'ended conflicts'

In her statement, Leavitt claimed that Trump brokered peace deals involving several nations, including:

• Thailand and Cambodia
  
• Israel and Iran
  
• Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  
• India and Pakistan
  
• Serbia and Kosovo
  
• Egypt and Ethiopia
  

“President Trump ended more conflicts than he started. On average, he brokered one peace deal every month during his six months in office,” she said. “It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”

India maintains ceasefire was bilateral

Despite the White House claims, the Indian government has consistently maintained that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was reached through bilateral channels.

Trump has previously claimed credit for defusing tensions between India and Pakistan, sometimes even tying the diplomatic success to trade negotiations. However, New Delhi has publicly and repeatedly rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation.

Pakistan backs Trump, nominates him for 2026 prize

In contrast to India’s stance, Pakistan has praised Trump’s alleged involvement. In June, the Pakistani government formally nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role during a “recent India-Pakistan crisis.”

“The Government of Pakistan has decided to formally recommend President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership,” read the official statement.

Nobel Committee remains silent

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is responsible for selecting recipients of the Peace Prize, has not made any public comments regarding Trump’s candidacy.