Trump downplays Nobel Peace Prize speculation, says he 'doesn't seek attention'
President tells CBS/BBC he wants to 'save lives' and pledges to press for a Russia-Ukraine agreement as Nobel announcement approaches
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to tamp down weeks of speculation that he is angling for a Nobel Peace Prize, telling CBS News — the BBC's U.S. partner — that he "doesn't seek attention" and that his focus is on saving lives.
"I have nothing to say about it," Trump said in a telephone interview. "All I can do is put out wars. I don't seek attention. I just want to save lives."
The remarks appeared to contrast with earlier statements in which Trump asserted he should be awarded the prize for his role in ending or reducing conflicts. In the same interview, he reiterated a commitment to help secure a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, saying: "Something is going to happen. We are going to get it done."
Trump is expected to speak by phone to a group of pro‑Ukraine European leaders who plan to meet in Paris on Thursday. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is attending the Paris gathering in person, the White House said.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is scheduled to announce the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 10. Nobel speculation around Trump has circulated in recent weeks, prompted by public and private comments by the president and by allies who have praised his administration's diplomatic efforts.
Four U.S. presidents have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, Woodrow Wilson in 1919, Jimmy Carter in 2002 and Barack Obama in 2009. The prize has frequently drawn heightened attention when current or former political leaders are considered potential recipients.
Trump's remarks came amid ongoing questions about the administration's foreign policy record and the extent to which its actions have altered conflicts worldwide. Journalists and fact‑checkers have examined claims by the president and his supporters about conflicts that have ended or been reduced during his tenure, noting that attributing the end of hostilities often involves multiple actors and long, complex diplomatic processes.
The White House has pointed to a range of diplomatic initiatives as evidence of its peace efforts. U.S. officials have said they are working quietly with partners to pursue agreements and de‑escalation measures in several regions, including efforts related to Ukraine.
Trump's telephone interview with CBS News was part of a series of recent media appearances in which he has discussed foreign policy alongside domestic matters. The president's stance on the Nobel speculation — framing his work as humanitarian and life‑saving rather than attention‑seeking — is likely to remain a talking point as world leaders and Nobel Committee members consider candidates ahead of the October announcement.