For several months leading up to the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, former U.S. President Donald Trump had been vocally asserting that he deserved the award for his diplomatic efforts and foreign policy achievements.

Throughout 2024, Trump repeatedly claimed that his work to broker peace deals and end conflicts across the globe made him a leading candidate for this prestigious honor.

Despite skepticism from critics and observers, he maintained that his contributions to international relations were unparalleled. Many betting markets and political analysts had even positioned him as a favorite to receive the prize.

However, when the Norwegian Nobel Committee finally revealed their decision, the award went not to Trump, but to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader known for her courageous and relentless fight for democracy in her country. Trump’s public statements throughout the year emphasized his…