Lula Proposes Nobel Peace Prize for Trump to End Global Wars, Calls for UN Reform Amid Rising Conflicts

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva suggested on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, that U.S. President Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize as a means to end global conflicts, delivering the remark with irony during a joint press appearance in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.

Lula’s comments were made in a provocative tone, emphasizing that awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump could lead to a world where “we will live in peace,” according to reports from R7 and G1. The statement came amid Lula’s broader criticism of ongoing wars and the perceived inaction of international institutions like the United Nations Security Council in addressing armed conflicts worldwide.

The Brazilian president has previously called for reforms to the UN Security Council, arguing that its current structure paralyzes effective responses to escalating conflicts, as noted in his remarks following a visit to Germany. He has also criticized the role of the United States and Israel in prolonging wars, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine, during speeches at international forums such as the Global Progressive Mobilisation in Barcelona.

Lula’s suggestion regarding Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize echoes similar sentiments expressed by other global leaders and Republican allies who have advocated for the former U.S. President to receive the honor, as reported by Politico in September 2025. Those calls have framed the prize as a potential tool to incentivize peacebuilding efforts, though they have also been met with skepticism given Trump’s foreign policy record.

At 80 years old, Lula is serving his third non-consecutive term as president of Brazil, having previously held office from 2003 to 2011 and returning to the presidency in January 2023 after defeating Jair Bolsonaro. A longtime leader of the Workers’ Party (PT), he has maintained an active international presence, using diplomatic engagements to advocate for multilateralism, peace, and structural reforms in global governance.

The remarks in Lisbon were part of Lula’s ongoing agenda in Europe, which included stops in Germany and Portugal, where he consistently linked the need for institutional reform at the United Nations with the urgency of ending armed conflicts through diplomatic and symbolic measures.