Trump Criticizes Obama's Nobel Peace Prize As Award Announcement Approaches

The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced at 5 am EST on Thursday

US President Donald Trump, in his persistent quest for the Nobel Peace Prize, has criticized former President Barack Obama's accomplishments, claiming he "did nothing" and was "destroying our country." During a White House press briefing, Trump highlighted his alleged success in bringing peace to Gaza and ending "eight wars," while insisting his motivations were not prize-oriented.

With the award announcement imminent, Trump expressed frustration that Obama received the Nobel merely months into his presidency.

"He got it for doing nothing. Obama got a prize - he didn't even know what - he got elected, and they gave it to Obama for doing absolutely nothing but destroying our country," Trump stated.

#Watch | "Honoured for doing nothing" : US President Donald Trump slams former President Barack Obama over Nobel Prize

Obama was only eight months into his first presidential term when he was awarded the prestigious honor in 2009. The decision surprised many, with even the liberal New York Times describing the recognition as 'very premature' and suggesting the Nobel 'should have a higher bar.'

"They gave it to Obama for absolutely nothing but destroying our country," Trump remarked following the finalization of the historic US-mediated peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.

"I've stopped eight wars, so that's never happened before - but they'll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn't do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives," he continued.

The Nobel Peace Prize announcement will take place at 5 am EST on Thursday in Oslo, Norway. Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Trump's campaign to influence the Peace Research Institute Oslo in Norway - which assists the Nobel Committee in evaluating candidates - has been quite transparent.

He has repeatedly claimed credit for various achievements, often exaggerating his personal influence. Last month, he essentially nominated himself for the Nobel Peace Prize during his United Nations address, declaring that he had "ended seven un-endable wars."

While Trump has contributed to peace negotiations between certain longstanding adversaries, his claimed role in brokering ceasefires in several conflicts he boasts about resolving has been contested by the nations involved.