The language used by Nobel experts to describe the prize’s ideals forms a powerful vocabulary of peace. Words like “fraternity,” “reconciliation,” and “international cooperation” are the cornerstones of the Nobel worldview. According to historian Theo Zenou, these are precisely the “words we do not associate with Donald Trump,” creating a linguistic and philosophical barrier to his candidacy.
Let’s break down this vocabulary:Fraternity: This is the word from Alfred Nobel’s will. It implies a sense of global kinship and shared humanity. Trump’s “America First” nationalism is a direct challenge to this concept, emphasizing national identity over a shared human one.
Reconciliation: This implies the healing of wounds and the mending of divisions. Past laureates like Nelson Mandela are the gold standard. Trump’s political style is often based on conflict and the sharpening of divisions, not their resolution.
Cooperation: This is the bedrock of the modern international system. The Nobel Committee champions those who build frameworks for nations to work together. Trump’s presidency was marked by a withdrawal from such cooperative frameworks, from the Paris Agreement to the Iran Deal.
This is not just a semantic game. These words represent the fundamental values the Nobel Prize is designed to uphold. A candidate’s entire record is measured against this lexicon of peace. Because Trump’s record is so clearly at odds with this core vocabulary, his path to the prize is effectively barred. The language of the Nobel and the language of Trumpism are, experts conclude, mutually unintelligible.
