Donald Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by far-right MP and that sound is the entire planet screaming into the void
US President Donald Trump (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a far-right Norwegian MP, and people aren’t sure if they should be laughing or crying.
Trump was nominated for the prestigious honour by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, who praised the US president for “trying to create peace between nations”. Yes, you read that right.
In his nomination letter, Tybring-Gjedde told the Nobel Prize Committee that Trump deserved the award for his role in a Washington-brokered deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“As it is expected other Middle Eastern countries will follow in the footsteps of the UAE, this agreement could be a game changer that will turn the Middle East into a region of cooperation and prosperity,” Tybring-Gjedde wrote in the letter, which was first reported by Fox News.
Needless to say, Tybring-Gjedde failed to mention Trump’s steadfast commitment to tearing up the civil rights of LGBT+ people – particularly trans people – throughout his presidency.
He also failed to mention the president’s track record of stoking racial tensions and spreading lies and misinformation.
The internet breathed out in one collective sigh before dissolving into fits of laughter, as news of the nomination spread.
— Lai, con Fuerza Moral? (@laishawilkins) September 9, 2020
The Nobel Prize committee hearing Donald Trump has been nominated pic.twitter.com/IeVqjyOovB— Jack©️ (@Jackasaurus3) September 9, 2020
Me after reading the news that Donald Trump is nominated for Nobel Peace Prize:#DonaldTrump #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/MOSJ85deVf— Abhishek Pandey (@_Now_sh_1_) September 9, 2020
God himself waded into the controversy to very clearly communicate his feelings on Trump’s nomination.
Donald Trump is the last person on the planet who should win the Nobel peace prize.— God (@thegoodgodabove) September 9, 2020
Others rightly pointed out that anybody – yes, literally anybody – can be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Donald Trump was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a far right anti-immigration member of Norwegian Parliament.
Ya know who else was once nominated for a Nobel?
Hitler.
He didn’t win.Neither will Trump.
— Shari Lynn (@LynnSharig8) September 9, 2020
In fact, the terms of the competition mean that any elected representative serving at a national level can nominate somebody for the prize. Some 318 people were nominated in 2020 alone.
Others questioned whether his nomination might have actually been a mistake.
Don't worry #DonaldTrump being nominated for the #NobelPeacePrize is just a typo. He was supposed to be nominated for the Nobel Piece of Shit Prize. We all make mistakes. pic.twitter.com/6CNOdxYECk— The Sting (@TheSting17) September 9, 2020
Meanwhile, some Twitter users had suggestions for how Trump could go about winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
I think Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize if he agrees to resign. I can’t think of a better way to achieve world peace than having him resign. Just saying.— Chidi®️ (@ChidiNwatu) September 9, 2020
Elsewhere, Jedward waded into the conversation, calling on the Nobel Prize committee to nominate them instead of Trump, as they bring “a lot more volume and peace”.
Hello @NobelPrize we would love to be Nominated!
There seems to be a confusion with @realDonaldTrump we obviously bring a lot more volume and Peace pic.twitter.com/gnSMyDM3fj— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 9, 2020
The winner of the 2020 prize will be announced in October, but we think it’s safe to say that Trump is unlikely to win.
