The White House has strongly defended former U.S. President Donald Trump following criticism over his receipt of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, insisting that no other individual is more deserving of the honour.
Global football governing body FIFA awarded Trump the newly introduced prize during the World Cup draw in December, citing his “promotion of peace and unity around the world”. The decision has since triggered widespread criticism from human rights groups, football officials and activists.
Opposition to the award has grown within the sporting community, with Australian footballer Jackson Irvine arguing that the decision undermines FIFA’s Human Rights Policy. Meanwhile, Norway’s football federation has gone further, calling for the prize to be abolished entirely, claiming it risks politicising the sport.
In response, the White House defended Trump’s record, highlighting what it described as his “Peace through Strength” foreign policy. A spokesperson said his administration had ended multiple international conflicts in less than a year, reinforcing the argument that he deserves the recognition.
“There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, adding that critics were driven by what he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome”.
However, the award has remained controversial, especially as it comes ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Critics have also pointed to subsequent U.S. military actions in Venezuela and joint airstrikes with Israel on Iran, questioning the consistency of the peace narrative surrounding the award.
Trump has frequently highlighted his role in resolving global conflicts and has repeatedly suggested he should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, further fuelling debate over the FIFA honour.
