---
title: "Cambodia to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, says deputy PM"
description: "PHNOM PENH, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Cambodia will nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, its deputy prime minister said on Friday, following his direct intervention in halting the Southeast Asian country's recent border conflict with Thailand."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-01-cambodia-to-nominate-donald-trump-for-nobel-peace-prize-says-deputy-pm/"
published: "2025-08-01T13:22:08"
updated: "2025-08-01T13:22:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 281
---

# Cambodia to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, says deputy PM

> PHNOM PENH, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Cambodia will nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, its deputy prime minister said on Friday, following his direct intervention in halting the Southeast Asian country's recent border conflict with Thailand.

By Reuters · Published 1 August 2025, 15:22 SAST · Updated 1 August 2025, 15:22 SAST

## Key points
- In a bizarre twist of geopolitical fate, Cambodia has officially thrown its hat into the ring for the Nobel Peace Prize with a nomination for Donald Trump, citing his role in quelling border skirmishes—because nothing says "peace" quite like a former president's text message.
- Cambodia confirms plans to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in fostering peace.
- Chanthol praises Trump for his contributions, linking his efforts to a recent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.
- Pakistan and Israel have also nominated Trump, highlighting his diplomatic impact in regional conflicts.
- The ceasefire follows intense clashes that resulted in over 300,000 people displaced and 43 fatalities.

## Content

Asked via text message to confirm Cambodia's plan to nominate Trump for the prize, Chanthol responded, "yes."

Speaking to reporters earlier in the capital, Phnom Penh, Chanthol thanked Trump for bringing peace and said he deserved to be nominated for the prize, the highest-profile international award given to an individual or organisation deemed to have done the most to "advance fellowship between nations".

Pakistan said in June that [it would recommend](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N3SO028&linkedFromStory=true) Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in helping to resolve a conflict with India, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [said last month](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3OK054&linkedFromStory=true) he had nominated Trump for the award.

It was a call by Trump last week that broke a deadlock in efforts to end the heaviest fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in over a decade, leading to a [ceasefire](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N3TP02E&linkedFromStory=true) negotiated in Malaysia on Monday, [Reuters has reported](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N3TR1XP&linkedFromStory=true).

Following the truce announcement, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that Trump made it happen.

"Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!," she said.

At least 43 people have been killed in the intense clashes, which lasted five days and displaced more than 300,000 people on both sides of the border.

"We acknowledge his great efforts for peace," said Chanthol, also Cambodia's top trade negotiator, adding that his country was also grateful for a reduced tariff rate of 19%.

Washington had initially threatened a tariff of 49%, later reducing it to 36%, a level that would have decimated Cambodia's vital garment and footwear sector, [Chanthol told Reuters](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AP8N3QF08B&linkedFromStory=true) in an interview earlier on Friday.

(Reporting by Martin Petty in Bangkok and Chantha Lach and Zaw Naing Oo in Phnom Penh; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal)