Rep. Buddy Carter recently nominated former President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, applauding his “extraordinary and historic role” in what many have called the 12-Day War ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
However, as the nomination letter was being sent, missile exchanges persisted between the two countries, and the fragile truce Trump announced was already starting to unravel. This prompts a critical question: can a peace prize be awarded for a conflict that never fully ended?
While Carter prepared his endorsement, missile attacks continued, and the ceasefire Trump declared was quickly falling apart. This raises the question: is it appropriate to grant a peace prize for halting a war that never truly ceased?
Background on the 12-Day Conflict and Ceasefire
The conflict began when Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran, citing concerns over Tehran’s rapid advancement toward nuclear weapon capability. Over more than a week, both sides exchanged rocket fire. The United States then intervened with strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, described by officials as the largest B-2 bomber attack in U.S. history.
Trump announced the conflict’s end late Monday afternoon, declaring a ceasefire to take effect overnight Tuesday. Israeli officials expressed gratitude toward Trump and the U.S., claiming they had achieved their goal of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear threat. For a short time, it seemed that another peace deal had been secured under Trump’s leadership.
The ceasefire terms were simple: both sides would stop firing, Israel would cease attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran would halt missile launches targeting Israeli cities.
Premature Nobel Peace Prize Nomination for Trump
In his letter, Carter praised Trump for “preventing the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism from acquiring the deadliest weapon on earth.” He described Trump’s role as “instrumental in securing a rapid agreement that many thought impossible.”
Yet the timing was awkward. Although Carter submitted the nomination on Tuesday, within hours, Israel accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire by firing ballistic missiles.
Reports confirmed that Iran launched two missiles after the ceasefire was supposed to begin—raising doubts about the durability of the agreement.
It recalled premature “Mission Accomplished” declarations, but in diplomacy. Sometimes it’s necessary to wait and see if peace holds before handing out awards.
Ceasefire Already Showing Signs of Collapse
By Tuesday evening, both sides blamed each other for violating the ceasefire. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to “respond firmly to Iran’s violations.” Meanwhile, Iran denied that any ceasefire agreement was ever finalized.
Frustrated, Trump told reporters, “We have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what they are doing.” Despite announcing a peace deal, missile exchanges between Israel and Iran resumed almost immediately.
Axios reported that, pressured by the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drastically scaled back planned retaliations. Still, the ceasefire’s credibility suffered serious damage.
A Pattern of Peace Challenges
This isn’t the first time Trump’s peace efforts have faced setbacks. Previously, Pakistan praised Trump’s “decisive diplomatic intervention” in resolving a crisis with India and even planned to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
But less than 24 hours later, Pakistan condemned Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, calling the strikes a “serious violation of international law.”
In Ukraine, Oleksandr Merezhko, a politician who nominated Trump last November, withdrew his nomination this week, citing doubts about Trump’s ability to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump returned to the White House in January pledging to end Europe’s largest land war since World War II within 24 hours. As months passed, that promise increasingly seemed unrealistic.
Trump’s Quest for the Nobel Peace Prize
Trump has long sought the Nobel Peace Prize, especially after President Obama received the award early in his term. Recently, Trump lamented on social media that despite his efforts—including in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Iran conflicts—he would not be awarded the prize.
Some Republicans disagree. Senator Katie Britt confidently stated, “President Trump is going to win the Nobel Peace Prize. No doubt.” Other GOP lawmakers echoed this, with South Carolina’s Nancy Mace saying Trump “did what Biden and Obama could NEVER do,” emphasizing “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
Currently, the Nobel Committee lists 338 nominees for the 2025 prize, including Trump, despite the apparent fragility of his latest ceasefire.
The Bigger Question: Can a Peace Prize Be Earned for Fragile Ceasefires?
While Trump’s “peace through strength” approach has its supporters, the Nobel Peace Prize traditionally honors those who achieve lasting peace, not short-lived truces that collapse amid ongoing conflict.
The committee has until January to select the 2025 laureate. By then, it will be clearer whether Trump’s Israel-Iran ceasefire was a genuine step toward peace or merely a temporary pause in a long-standing conflict. Regardless, the nomination’s timing marks one of the most hopeful—and controversial—moments in recent diplomacy.
The nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize amid a fragile and quickly weakening ceasefire between Israel and Iran underscores the difficulties of awarding peace in a volatile world. While Trump’s actions may reflect bold diplomacy, true peace requires more than temporary truces—it demands sustained dedication and stability.
As the Nobel Committee deliberates, this moment reminds us that real peace is measured not by swift announcements or hopeful nominations, but by lasting resolution and reconciliation. Whether Trump’s involvement marks a genuine breakthrough or just a fleeting pause remains uncertain, but it highlights how fragile and complex peace can be in today’s geopolitical landscape.