Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest political rivals, has stunned observers by declaring she would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize if he successfully ends the war in Ukraine without forcing the country to surrender territory to Russia.
Clinton made the remarks during an interview on the Raging Moderates podcast with Jessica Tarlov, released Friday, and later shared by Tarlov on X.
Clinton: “If Trump Ends It, I’d Nominate Him”
“Honestly, if he could bring about the end to this terrible war, if he could end it without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory to the aggressor, could really stand up to Putin… if President Trump were the architect of that, I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize,” Clinton told Tarlov.
She emphasized her condition: “My goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin.”
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet today in Alaska and even Hillary Clinton sees a path toward a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump (but it’s going to take a lot).
Here’s how: https://t.co/SPuj87qz48 pic.twitter.com/4GJPBmSnhs
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) August 15, 2025
Trump’s Response
“That was very nice,” the Republican president told Fox News’ Bret Baier during an in-flight interview enroute to his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Alaska.
“I may have to start liking her again.”
Baier: Hillary Clinton said that if you got this deal done and not capitulate to Putin, she would nominate you for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Trump: That was very nice. I might have to start liking her again. pic.twitter.com/AuiPkbHBRl
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 15, 2025
Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
Clinton’s remarks come as Trump heads into high-stakes talks in Anchorage, Alaska, with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The goal: broker an end to the brutal three-year conflict that has drained U.S. taxpayers under the Biden-Harris administration and left Ukraine devastated.
Putin has demanded Kyiv withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — along with formal recognition of those regions and Crimea as Russian territory.
Analysts say he may be open to compromises, such as freezing the war along current lines, in exchange for sanctions relief or NATO guarantees.
Zelenskyy: No Deal Without Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected any peace settlement that trades land. In a video address, he insisted: “Ukrainians will not give their land as a gift to the occupier. Any decision made against or without Ukraine will bring nothing. These are dead decisions.”
Still, Zelenskyy added he was “ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work toward real, and most importantly, lasting peace.”
Trump Sees Path, Even With Risks
Trump has pegged the chances of outright failure at 25 percent, but said if the first meeting goes well, he plans to quickly arrange a second round of talks including Zelenskyy.
The president has long voiced his desire to bring U.S. wars to an end and secure recognition for peace efforts.
Pulling off a Ukraine deal would not only cement his reputation as a master dealmaker — it would also force Clinton, of all people, to follow through on her pledge to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
