Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize, Jokes About Sharing With Trump
Navi Pillay is a South African lawyer and judge who has worked on human rights and justice.
She won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to peace and international law.
When her colleagues applauded in Nuremberg, Germany, she joked that she might share the prize with US President Donald Trump if they clapped more.
The joke made the people around her laugh.
Pillay said she first wondered whether the news was a joke.
She wanted to check that it was true before believing it.
She has held important jobs with the United Nations and international courts.
UN officials said her award recognizes the importance of human rights, fairness and accountability.
South African jurist Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for promoting peace and international law.
In Nuremberg, Germany, Pillay joked that she might share the prize with US President Donald Trump if colleagues applauded more.
Pillay said she initially thought the news might be a joke and wanted to verify it before accepting it as genuine.
Her career includes work as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
UN human rights officials described the award as recognition of human rights, the rule of law, justice and accountability.
- Who
- Navi Pillay, a South African jurist, received the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
- What
- She was awarded the prize for promoting peace and international law, and joked about sharing it with Donald Trump.
- When
- Friday; the articles do not give a calendar date for the announcement.
- Where
- The reaction was captured in Nuremberg, Germany.
- Why
- The Nobel committee recognized her contributions to international law and her commitment to universal legal principles and a firm moral compass.
- Award
- 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
- Recipient
- Navi Pillay
- Announcement
- Friday; no calendar date specified in the articles
- Reaction setting
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Video shared by
- Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General
- UN role
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- International court roles
- Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court
Sources
'I May Share Prize With Trump': Navi Pillay's Hilarious First Reaction After Nobel Peace Prize 2026 Goes Viral
‘If you clap a little bit more I may share this prize with Trump’: Navi Pillay cracks a joke after Nobel win