American singer and activist John Legend has responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful attempt to win the Nobel Peace Prize, after the nomination went instead to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
In a video shared on Instagram, the 46-year-old All of Me singer offered Trump a mix of blunt criticism and constructive advice on what he believes the ex-president must change if he truly hopes to earn the award one day.
“Stop declaring war on the American people, stop sending the military into our cities simply because they’re run by Democrats,” Legend said.
The Grammy-winning artist, who performed at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, acknowledged that Trump’s role in helping broker a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza was commendable, but added that it was “not enough” to merit the prestigious honor.
“We all want to see peace in Gaza and the West Bank,” he continued. “If this peace is really lasting, we just might see Donald Trump get that peace prize he really wants.”
However, Legend didn’t hold back in listing the “deeper issues” he said Trump must address before ever being worthy of the prize.
“He’d have to stop all this authoritarian, dictator stuff — all the fascist and inhumane things he’s been trying to do,” the singer said, accusing Trump of fueling division at home while trying to appear as a peacemaker abroad.
“The so-called ‘Peace President’ who’s ending wars around the world would also have to stop sending Black Hawk helicopters to terrorize people while they sleep in their apartments,” Legend added.
He went further to criticize Trump’s immigration policies, saying, “Stop sending masked, unaccountable ICE agents to torment immigrant communities. Stop ordering the prosecution of political opponents on flimsy charges.”
Despite his pointed criticism, Legend concluded on a surprisingly hopeful note:
“Believe it or not, I want you to do this. I want this peace prize for you so badly — for us, for all of us.”
The video, captioned “Trump for Peace Prize 2026!”, has since gone viral, drawing widespread attention for its blend of sarcasm, sincerity, and social commentary — a tone long associated with John Legend’s outspoken political voice.
