Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump could only be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeds in ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza. Macron made the remarks in an interview on Tuesday, shortly after Trump delivered a combative address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“I see an American president who claims to be pursuing peace, who this morning reiterated his commitment to peace from the UN podium,” Macron said. “But a Nobel Peace Prize can only be imagined if he actually manages to bring an end to this war,” he added, referring to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
The comments come just one day after France formally recognized the State of Palestine, a move Macron described as “symbolic,” noting that a viable Palestinian state can only emerge when Israel also acknowledges its existence. “Recognition by Israel is essential for any real progress,” he emphasized.
Trump’s Claims of Peacemaking, Macron’s Skepticism
In his UN address, Trump declared that he had helped resolve “seven wars” during his time in office and argued he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. However, he quickly downplayed the personal importance of the accolade, saying, “The real prize is saving lives and ending wars not receiving medals.”
Nonetheless, his remarks were widely seen as a bid to reposition himself as a global statesman at a time when he is campaigning to return to the White House.
But Macron appeared to throw cold water on that self-image, implicitly challenging Trump to prove his peacemaking credentials in Gaza a conflict that, despite various international efforts, continues to spiral with devastating consequences.
A War With No End in Sight
Since Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023, the humanitarian toll has been catastrophic. According to recent estimates, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed and 163,000 injured. The war, now nearing its second anniversary, has drawn international condemnation, especially as it expands into neighboring countries.
Israel has conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Qatar, and Iran, with the latter enduring a brief 12-day war earlier this year. The regional fallout has prompted growing alarm at the UN, where several member states are calling for an immediate ceasefire and renewed diplomatic engagement.
Macron on Trump, the UN, and Global Leadership
During his address, Trump used his platform not to rally support for multilateral solutions, but to lash out at the very institution hosting him. He mocked the United Nations as a failed body, calling it “a broken elevator stuck halfway up,” and accused it of “issuing empty speeches” and “doing nothing to end wars.”
“The UN has incredible potential,” Trump said. “But it’s nowhere near fulfilling it. All it does is write strongly-worded letters and never follows through.”
He also took aim at the very architecture of the UN, suggesting the headquarters in New York was a product of corruption and mismanagement. In contrast, Trump boasted of his own leadership: “The United States is back where it belongs on top. This is America’s golden age.”
But for many world leaders, including Macron, the rhetoric rings hollow without results.
“You can’t build peace with slogans,” a French diplomat accompanying Macron told reporters. “You have to show real progress, especially when so many lives are at stake.”
Growing Divide Between U.S. and Europe
Trump’s tone at the UN, coupled with his dismissive comments toward international diplomacy, reflects a widening gulf between U.S. populism and European multilateralism.
France’s decision to recognize Palestine alongside several other European nations, was seen as a coordinated pushback against Israel’s ongoing military campaign and a rebuke of American inertia in the peace process.
As Macron and Trump continue to circle each other on the global stage, their contrasting visions for conflict resolution, international law, and diplomacy are becoming increasingly clear.
And while Trump seeks accolades for past achievements, Macron has issued a clear challenge: “Peace in Gaza is the test. Not the speeches, not the declarations but results.”
