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President Trump told reporters during a White House briefing that Vladimir Putin expressed disbelief over his war settlement claims
02:14, Wed, Jan 21, 2026 Updated: 02:49, Wed, Jan 21, 2026
"Even Putin told me, 'I cannot believe you got this war settled,'" Trump claimed. (Image: Getty)
President Trump appeared to harbour lingering resentment about missing out on the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday as he spoke to reporters on the anniversary of his return to office, suggesting that even Russian President Vladimir Putin was surprised by his diplomatic achievements.
Speaking at length from the White House press briefing room on Tuesday, the president highlighted various accomplishments from his first year back in office. Nevertheless, the discussion frequently returned to one of his most persistent personal frustrations: failing to secure the Nobel Peace Prize.
"I got, you know, the presidents and prime ministers together. We knocked heads. We got along. And they liked me. I liked them. Every single one of them nominated me for a Nobel Prize. Every one of the wars, among many other people, nominated me for a Nobel Prize," he stated.
"Even Putin told me, 'I cannot believe you got this war settled,'" Trump claimed.
The president has become increasingly preoccupied with the Nobel Peace Prize in recent days, following Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado's decision to present her medal and diploma to him at the White House.
"Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace for the work I have done," Trump posted on social media. "Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!".
Throughout the past year, Trump has persistently pursued recognition as a Nobel laureate, incorrectly asserting he has resolved eight conflicts during his time in Washington. However, his aspirations were thwarted when the peace prize committee awarded Machado in October for her leadership of the Venezuelan opposition and her efforts to ensure transparency in her country's elections, actions that forced her into hiding for several months.
Machado recently accepted her award in Norway, having endured a perilous journey to escape her homeland. Yet, following Trump's attempts to oust Maduro from power, Machado declared she would bestow upon the American president the prize he had long coveted.
Venezuela's Machado gave Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal (Image: -)
Intriguingly, despite possessing the physical awards, the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a blistering statement asserting that Trump would not be recognised as the winner of the prize. They clarified that the medal and diploma are merely tangible acknowledgements of the title, not the prize itself.
"A Nobel Peace Prize laureate receives two central symbols of the prize: a gold medal and a diploma. In addition, the prize money is awarded separately. Regardless of what may happen to the medal, the diploma, or the prize money, it is and remains the original laureate who is recorded in history as the recipient of the prize," the statement read. "Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else's possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
"A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced," the statement continued. "A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time."
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado (Image: Getty)
The committee further clarified that it does not involve itself with what laureates may do with their prizes post-victory, as there are currently no rules limiting what winners may do with their medals and diplomas once they are awarded.
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"The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not see it as their role to engage in day-to-day commentary on Peace Prize laureates or the political processes that they are engaged in," the statement asserted. "The prize is awarded on the basis of the laureate's contributions by the time that the committee's decision is taken.
"The Committee does not comment on laureates' subsequent statements, decisions, or actions," it added. "Any ongoing assessments or choices made by laureates must be understood as their own responsibility."
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