OSLO | October 2025 As the world awaits the announcement of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, all eyes are on five Norwegians who hold one of the most influential and secretive votes in global diplomacy.
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Among the 338 nominees for the 2025 prize is U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he deserves the honour for what he calls his success in “ending wars” and brokering new peace agreements. Whether he wins or not depends entirely on the deliberations of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member panel appointed by Norway’s parliament.
Trump has said it would be a “big insult to America” if he doesn’t win, arguing that his foreign policy achievements, including the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, make him the “most deserving” candidate.
But who exactly are the people behind this year’s decision?
The Nobel Committee: Guardians of a Global Legacy
The Norwegian Nobel Committee was established in 1897 to carry out the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist and philanthropist who created the Peace Prize. Each year, the committee selects a laureate who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the promotion of peace congresses.”
The five committee members are chosen by the Storting, Norway’s parliament, to reflect the balance of political forces in the country. They serve six-year terms and can be reappointed, but cannot simultaneously hold seats in parliament.
Their deliberations are completely confidential; nominees are not informed, voting records are sealed for 50 years, and discussions take place behind closed doors at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo.
This year’s winner will be announced on Friday at 11:00 a.m. local time (09:00 GMT).
Meet the Five Nobel Peace Prize Judges
1. Jørgen Watne Frydnes – The Idealist Chair
At just 41, Jørgen Watne Frydnes is the youngest-ever chair of the Nobel Committee. Appointed in 2021, his tenure runs through 2026. A human rights advocate by background, Frydnes is known for his work with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and as the secretary-general of PEN Norway, an organisation defending freedom of expression.
He is also a board member of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, which promotes human rights and democracy.
Frydnes played a significant role in rebuilding the island of Utøya, the site of the 2011 massacre of 69 Labour Party youth activists by a right-wing extremist. Although officially apolitical, he is seen as ideologically close to Norway’s ruling Labour Party.
Under his leadership, the Nobel Peace Prize has gone to figures such as journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov (2021), Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski (2022), and Iranian rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi (2023). Last year’s award went to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors.
“We discuss, we argue, there is high temperature,” Frydnes said in a recent interview. “But we aim for consensus, and we always remain principled.”
2. Asle Toje – The Conservative Strategist
Asle Toje, 51, serves as the vice chair of the committee and is considered its most conservative voice. A political scientist and author, he previously worked as the research director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
Appointed in 2018 and reappointed in 2024, Toje is aligned with Norway’s right-wing political bloc. His academic work includes The European Union as a Small Power: After the Post–Cold War, which critiques European diplomacy and NATO dependency.
Toje is known for his outspoken and occasionally provocative style. He has described Trump’s political rise as “a challenge to Western liberal complacency,” urging analysts to adopt a more “nuanced” approach toward populism.
Though he attended Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, Toje has dismissed suggestions that lobbying efforts influence the committee. “Such campaigns usually have the opposite effect,” he once said. “We discuss them, and we don’t like being pressured.”
3. Anne Enger – The Veteran Politician
A stalwart of Norwegian politics, Anne Enger, 75, has served on the committee since 2018 and will remain a member until 2026. A former Minister of Culture, Acting Prime Minister (1998), and County Governor of Østfold, Enger brings decades of political experience to the Nobel deliberations.
She began her career as a nursing educator before joining Norway’s Centre Party, where she rose to national prominence for her opposition to Norway’s entry into the European Union.
Enger has been known for her socially conservative views, notably leading the People’s Movement Against Free Abortion in the 1970s. However, she has since focused on cultural and humanitarian issues.
Her political independence and long administrative career make her one of the committee’s most respected voices.
4. Kristin Clemet – The Economist and Reformer
Kristin Clemet, 68, represents Norway’s Conservative Party (Høyre) and has been on the committee since 2021. A trained economist, she previously served as Minister of Education and Research (2001–2005). She was a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Kåre Willoch.
Known for her commitment to education reform and liberal economics, Clemet is a frequent commentator on democracy and governance. She has publicly criticised Trump’s approach to politics, writing that he was “dismantling American democracy” and undermining the rules-based international order.
Still, Clemet is respected for her pragmatic approach to global affairs and her belief that the Peace Prize should “reward courage rooted in principle, not power.”
5. Gry Larsen – The Humanitarian Diplomat
At 49, Gry Larsen is the youngest woman on the committee and one of its most internationally connected members. A former State Secretary in Norway’s Foreign Ministry and head of CARE Norway, she has worked extensively on global women’s rights and humanitarian relief.
Her career has not been without controversy; she once faced criticism from a pro-Israel group for alleged support of a boycott campaign, though no official action was taken.
Larsen is closely associated with the Labour Party and is known for her strong advocacy for gender equality and global humanitarian coordination. She has previously voiced criticism of Trump’s cuts to foreign aid and his administration’s approach to women’s rights.
How the Committee Works and Why It’s So Secretive
Each January, the Nobel Committee receives hundreds of nominations from around the world. Eligible nominators include university professors, parliamentarians, past laureates, and members of international courts.
After the nomination deadline on January 31, the committee reviews submissions and compiles a shortlist by March. Deliberations continue for several months before the final decision is made in October.
The process is strictly confidential members are prohibited from discussing nominees or revealing voting details. The secrecy aims to shield the committee from political pressure and ensure independence.
A History of Controversy
The committee has often been criticised for its choices, from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2019 award (followed by renewed conflict in Tigray) to contentious decisions involving U.S. presidents and dissidents.
“To give the Peace Prize is to take a stand,” Toje once said. “If it didn’t spark outrage, we wouldn’t be doing our job.”
In the past, rumours have surfaced linking committee members to potential biases. For instance, a viral claim in 2023 falsely alleged that Toje endorsed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the prize, a story later debunked.
What Do They Think of Trump?
While none of the members have publicly commented on Trump’s 2025 candidacy, their past statements reveal mixed views.
- Frydnes has warned against “democratic backsliding” by major powers.
- Clemet has accused Trump of “undermining liberal institutions.”
- Larsen has criticised his administration’s human rights record and cuts to foreign aid.
- Enger remains neutral, rarely commenting on global leaders.
- Toje, by contrast, has been more sympathetic, describing Trump’s rise as “a reflection of democratic fatigue.”
Despite speculation, the committee insists that lobbying has no effect. “Every year, we receive thousands of letters and requests,” Frydnes said. “Pressure is nothing new; our independence is absolute.”
The Toughest Year Yet
This year’s selection comes amid a backdrop of wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, rising authoritarianism, and global humanitarian crises.
“The world is watching,” Frydnes recently said. “And that means our duty is to stay principled.”
Inside Norway, some have expressed concern over what might happen if Trump loses. The U.S. has already imposed new tariffs on Norwegian exports, and the Trump administration has criticised Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign fund for divesting from U.S. firms linked to conflicts.
However, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide reiterated that the government does not influence the Nobel Committee’s decisions: “The Peace Prize is fully independent, that is what makes it credible.”
Who Could Win Instead?
While the list of nominees remains secret, analysts and bookmakers have named several contenders:
- Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, volunteer groups providing humanitarian relief during the country’s civil war.
- Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) defends global press freedom.
Experts say the choice will reflect how the committee interprets peace in an increasingly fractured world.
As one Norwegian scholar observed: “Whether it’s a grassroots volunteer group or a sitting U.S. president, the prize is ultimately about one thing: hope.”
