European leaders heaped praise on U.S. President Donald Trump for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — even as Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg formally nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the American president’s recent diplomatic successes.
In coordinated statements following Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had “signed off on the first phase” of a deal to end the Gaza war, senior European Union figures and national leaders commended the U.S. president’s role in driving the accord forward, as reported in EU leaders rush to thank the U.S. president for his efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed “the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by POTUS,” tagging Trump directly on social media.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hailed “a pivotal moment for peace and renewal in the Middle East,” crediting Trump, along with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, for their mediation efforts. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of “Donald Trump’s Peace Plan,” thanking him for his “relentless pursuit of an end to the conflict in Gaza,” while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker also extended their appreciation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to “President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza,” describing it as a “moment of profound relief” for hostages, their families, and the civilian population of Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron, a leading advocate for Palestinian statehood, also acknowledged Trump’s role, commending the “efforts of President @realDonaldTrump” and other regional mediators.
Not all European leaders, however, were ready to offer direct praise. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas both welcomed the ceasefire agreement as “encouraging” and a “major diplomatic accomplishment,” but notably omitted any mention of Trump’s role.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, in contrast, went further — saying Trump “deserved the Nobel Peace Prize” for his efforts to bring an end to the Gaza conflict.
That sentiment found formal expression on Thursday in Malta, where Foreign Minister Ian Borg announced he had nominated the U.S. president for the Nobel Peace Prize. Writing on Facebook, Borg said he had “presented the American president with a letter I wrote in my own name, in which I informed him that, like many others, I have nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Borg cited Trump’s mediation in the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, noting that, as OSCE chair last year, he had “worked with many people on the conflict… towards a peace that was finally brokered this summer by the American President.” The leaders of both nations signed a peace agreement at the White House in August, described by Trump as “historic.”
Borg added that he had urged Trump “to continue working on the Middle East and Ukraine,” applauding the “increased commitment that is bringing us closer to peace.”
Trump, who has made no secret of his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, has repeatedly claimed credit for what he calls the ending of “seven wars,” ranging from Cambodia and Thailand to Egypt and Ethiopia. Critics have challenged several of those claims as exaggerated or inaccurate, but his supporters point to the Israel–Hamas ceasefire and the Armenia–Azerbaijan deal as concrete achievements.
As the Norwegian Nobel Committee prepares to announce the 2025 Peace Prize winner on Friday, Trump’s campaign for global recognition has intensified. The U.S. president, who often casts his diplomacy as part of a broader mission to restore American prestige, told U.S. military leaders in September: “Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing. But it’d be a big insult to our country, I will tell you that. I don’t want it — I want the country to get it.”
For now, European leaders’ public gratitude and Malta’s nomination have given Trump fresh momentum in his quest for international recognition — and perhaps, the validation that has long eluded him.
