Singer-songwriter John Legend wants President Donald Trump to win next year’s Nobel Peace Prize — but only under a few conditions.
In a video shared on Instagram over the weekend, Legend trolled Trump after his long-sought bid to receive the prestigious prize was brought to a halt. The Nobel Prize Committee announced Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as the 2025 recipient on Friday.
The announcement prompted outrage from some of Trump’s supporters and allies, many of whom argued that his efforts in securing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be worthy of this year’s recognition — even though the committee’s deadline for submitting a nomination already passing on Jan. 31.
While calling for peace in the Middle East, Trump and other world leaders signed a document on Monday that he said outlines the future of Gaza, after all 20 living Israel hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were released as the first step of the ceasefire agreement. The bodies of 28 deceased hostages will also be released — although a timeline remains unclear.
While pointing to activists and politicians who have previously won the honor, Legend said on Saturday that Trump has “made a step in the right direction,” calling him “instrumental” in bringing about an ongoing historic peace plan.
“Let’s all pray that this deal is actually lasting, that it’s long term,” Legend said. “The people of Gaza have had their lives and their communities destroyed for the past two years. Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7th was horrific, and they’ve held dozens of hostages in captivity, and then the Israeli response has been utterly devastating.”
Legend added: “For the sake of humanity, this war needs to end, and if this peace is really lasting, we might just see Donald Trump get that peace prize that he really, really wants.”
In addition to ushering peace in the Middle East, Legend took a turn, saying that the president would also have to first have to “stop sending Black Hawk helicopters to terrorize people while they sleep in their apartment buildings in Chicago.”
“Yes, the so-called peace president who’s ending wars around the world would also have to stop declaring war on the American people,” Legend said as he noted the president’s attempts to deploy the National Guard into the Illinois city, despite opposition from Democratic leaders.
“Stop sending the military into our cities, simply because they’re run by Democrats. Stop sending masked, unaccountable ICE agents to torment immigrant communities. Stop ordering the prosecution of his political opponents on flimsy charges. He’d have to stop bombing boats in the Caribbean‚” he continued, adding: “Maybe he’d have to refund [the United States Agency for International Development] and restore humanitarian aid.”
Legend went on to say that Trump has to “stop all this authoritarian, dictator s—, all the fascist s—, all the inhumane s— he’s been trying to do.”
“So guys, for the sake of this country, and all of humanity, we should all really, really want Donald J. Trump to earn a Nobel Peace Prize, right?” Legend asked.
He then delivered a blunt message to the president.
“Let’s get to it. You have another year to work on this. It’s going to require a serious change in your governing philosophy, in your behavior,” Legend said.
He continued: “But as a parent, I’ve learned that kids respond really well to positive reinforcement. So Donald, we’ve tried negative reinforcement, impeachment, indictments, voting you out of office, so let’s try positive. Let’s promise that if you get it together, you change your awful behavior, you’re going to get that peace prize that you so, so badly desire. And I’ll be so proud of you.”
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