Navi Pillay says Donald Trump ‘will never’ win Nobel Peace Prize

South African judge Navi Pillay has declared that US President Donald Trump will never win the Nobel Peace Prize, describing his failure to secure the award as an indictment against him.

Pillay, 85, made the remarks in an interview on Friday, 9 October, after being named the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner for her contribution to international law and human rights.

“The fact that Trump never got the Nobel Prize and never will is an indictment against him,” she said.

Pillay also challenged Americans to consider what their president’s actions say about the values they want their country to uphold.

“There’s a message that all Americans should take on board,” she said.

She questioned whether Americans wanted to stand for justice, fairness and impartiality, values she believes are cherished across the world, or support Trump’s approach to international affairs.

Pillay accused the US president of using sanctions, punishment, deportations and arrests against people and foreign leaders whose views or actions he opposed.

Her criticism follows Trump’s repeated public claims that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts to resolve international conflicts.

Trump administration sanctions International Criminal Court

Pillay’s criticism coincided with a major announcement from Washington on Friday.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Navi Pillay's reaction in her first interview after being named 2026 Laureate.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/TA3lR9H2R0

— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp)

October 9, 2026

The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), where Pillay previously served as a judge.

According to a report, the measures could prevent American companies from providing financial and other services to the court, which investigates and prosecutes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision, saying Washington would not allow the court to prosecute Americans.

Rubio described the ICC as a “rogue court” and accused it of exceeding its authority.

The court’s deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, condemned the sanctions, warning that they threatened international law. She insisted that the court would continue its investigations and prosecutions.

Navi Pillay jokes about sharing Nobel Prize with Trump

Earlier on Friday, Pillay drew laughter while receiving a standing ovation at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice in Germany.

“If you clap a little bit more I may share this prize with Trump,” she joked.

Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard shared footage of the moment on X.

Pillay was attending an international legal conference when the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that she had won the prestigious award.

The committee recognised her decades of work strengthening international law and holding those responsible for serious international crimes accountable.

Pillay previously served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and held senior positions at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the ICC.

More recently, she chaired a UN commission investigating alleged violations of international law in Gaza.

Ramaphosa congratulates Navi Pillay

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Pillay, describing the award as recognition of her lifelong commitment to justice, human dignity and peace.

“She has served humanity with principle and the belief that the world can and should be a better place,” Ramaphosa said.

The president praised Pillay’s contribution to international law, which began during apartheid when she represented political activists, including Nelson Mandela.

Pillay joins Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mandela and FW de Klerk among South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The United Nations Human Rights Office also welcomed the announcement.

Spokesperson Shabia Mantoo described Pillay as a committed defender of human rights and said the recognition was especially significant at a time when international human rights protections faced mounting pressure.