Beneath the spires of a reborn Notre Dame, Donald Trump issued a call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
For the first time in years, peace seems possible. Russia’s war machine, tempered by the blood of 400,000 Ukrainians, is battered. The Ruble is in the rubble and Putin has lost his grip on Syria.
Though the ceasefire in Ukraine and Gaza, and returning Israeli hostages, remains President Biden’s top priorities, the lack of progress in months suggests it’ll likely fall to Trump - who has vowed to deliver “peace through strength.”
Indeed, Biden and Trump discussed these objectives during their two-hour meeting mere weeks ago.
But this isn’t the only reason Trump must act with urgency. There is a brief 13-day window between his inauguration and a nomination for an accolade which would cement his legacy from day one: the Nobel Peace Prize.
It’s no secret Trump has wanted, and deserved, the award for years. Despite failing four times already, he says he’d win “if they actually awarded it fairly.”
With his fifth nomination submitted by one of Zelensky’s men, and a vow to broker a Gaza ceasefire “within 24 hours”, Trump is closer than ever to winning the prize - fuelled by the same grit that built his business empire and won him the presidency.
In the face of multiple conflicts, Trump has the potential to redefine global politics with his maverick diplomacy. His skills as a successful negotiator coupled with his ‘America First’ strategy may be just the answer to the prayers of America’s allies.
Let’s just look at his track record. He boldly called what’s happening to the China’s Uyghurs what it is, an ongoing genocide. He upset Washington’s diplomatic class by negotiating directly with the Taliban - the result being that we brought many of our troops home from that two-decade long war.
Trump’s willingness to challenge the status quo and step into uncharted territory led to his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a high-risk gamble that eased decades of tension. He also negotiated the historic Abraham Accords which marked a historic moment in Middle Eastern diplomacy and normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE, Sudan and Bahrain.
However, new momentum is needed to end these newer waves of war.
Let’s remember we may have won peace in Afghanistan, but we’re well-away from lasting stability. Navigating post-war Ukraine and Palestine will demand sustained diplomacy, and Trump’s rapport with key players could aid him in achieving his policy objectives, including Israel-Saudi normalization and a regional alliance against a nearly nuclear Iran.
For many – Jewish, Christian and Muslim – peace in the Holy Land in particular is deeply personal. Trump understands this and is already taking the right steps, even if securing a stable world takes a lifetime, not just Trump’s next four years.
But Trump has in his favor strong relationships with key players in the region, including leaders in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE. Leveraging these ties, he could broker an agreement that ends the violence and lays the groundwork for sustainable peace - fulfilling the promises made to the Americans of all faiths who voted for him on his promise of peace.
Trump’s rhetoric often gives many in diplomatic circles heartburn. He’s a disrupter to say the least. But let’s admit, his “crazy as a fox” style often works and could be what’s needed to end conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Palestine.
Such an accomplishment would deserve recognition. In fact, former President Barack Obama won the Nobel prize for far less. Back in 2009, the award came with a flurry of criticism, and the ex-secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee later suggested that it had been a mistake.
But if Obama can join the ranks of esteemed Nobel Prize laureates, why not Trump?
Indeed, the Nobel Peace Prize has never been about perfection but about progress. And if Trump can end the war in Gaza or Ukraine, he would no doubt deserve its recognition – not as a flawless leader, but as a bold and pragmatic negotiator who seized the moment to prevent further bloodshed and to God-willing, secure a lasting peace.