š āTrump says heās not chasing the Nobel Peace Prize but somehow, itās chasing him.ā š As Israel and Hamas ink the deal, the world claps ā yet behind closed doors, diplomats murmur: āIs this peace⦠or performance?āš One thingās certain history just got a plot twist.thuthu
āTrump Says Heās Not Chasing the Nobel Peace PrizeāBut Somehow, Itās Chasing Himā: As Israel and Hamas Ink the Deal, the World ClapsāYet Behind Closed Doors, Diplomats Murmur: āIs This Peace⦠Or Performance?ā
By Elena Ramirez, Global Affairs Correspondent October 10, 2025 ā Oslo, Norway
The gilded halls of the Nobel Institute hummed with anticipation Friday morning, but the real drama unfolded 5,000 miles away in the scorched sands of Gaza. Hours before the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social with a flourish: āIsrael and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!ā It was classic Trumpābold, declarative, laced with superlatives. Crowds in Tel Aviv erupted in cheers, hostage families wept in relief, and global leaders issued measured praise. Yet as confetti rained in Jerusalem, a whisper rippled through diplomatic backchannels: Is this the dawn of lasting harmony, or just another high-stakes performance in the Art of the Deal? One thingās certain: History just got a plot twist, with the Nobel as its dramatic pivot.

The breakthrough capped a frenetic week of shuttle diplomacy, where Trumpās 20-point Gaza planāunveiled in Septemberāemerged from the shadows of stalled talks. Phase one: Hamas releases the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages (and remains of 30 others) within 72 hours, in exchange for 1,500 Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli troop pullback to pre-March 2025 lines. Aid convoys would flood Gaza, monitored by U.S.-led observers, with phase two eyeing Hamas disarmament and a demilitarized buffer zone. Trump, who jetted to Doha for marathon sessions with Qatari mediators and Turkish envoys, claimed the credit unapologetically. āIām not chasing the Nobelāitās chasing me,ā he quipped to reporters at Andrews Air Force Base, echoing his UN General Assembly boast of ending āseven unendable warsā this year aloneāfrom Ukraineās fragile truce to Cambodia-Thailand border pacts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once skeptical, pivoted swiftly: āPresident Trump deserves the Nobelāheās the peacemaker we needed.ā
The worldās applause was swift but uneven. In Washington, bipartisan nods emerged: Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Tim Kaine hailed it a āmonumental accomplishment,ā crediting Trumpās ādecisive diplomacyā while urging vigilance on implementation. Republicans went furtherāReps. Anna Paulina Luna, Buddy Carter, and Claudia Tenney filed resolutions nominating Trump anew, with Tenney declaring, āNobody has done more for world peace.ā Hostage families, in a tear-streaked Tel Aviv vigil, echoed the call: āTrump brought us light through our darkest times.ā On X, #TrumpNobel surged to 12.4 million posts, with memes of the president hoisting a gold medal amid exploding fireworks. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump personally, while Pakistan and Azerbaijanākey nominatorsārallied behind him.
Yet the claps masked murmurs of doubt. Diplomats, speaking off-record in Osloās fog-shrouded cafes, questioned the dealās scaffolding. āItās a ceasefire, not peace,ā one European envoy confided, noting Hamasās insistence on a full Israeli withdrawal and Gaza reconstruction guaranteesāterms Israel views as non-starters. A senior Hamas official accused Netanyahu of āreneging on prisoner lists,ā warning of derailment if Israel bombs resume. Critics, including Norwegian Nobel Committee historian Asle Toje, flagged Trumpās ābrinkmanshipāātariffs on Turkish steel, threats of āall hellā on Hamasāas coercive, not collaborative. āThe prize honors fraternity, not fiat,ā Toje said, invoking past controversies like Henry Kissingerās 1973 win. On X, skeptics amplified: āHundreds dead in Israel, thousands in GazaāHamas happy for a breather, Israel for revenge. Trumpās Nobel chase is the real shame,ā posted activist Ashwani Kumar, his thread drawing 4,500 reposts.

The Nobel timing amplified the theater. With 338 nomineesā244 individuals, 94 organizationsāthe committee, a five-member panel of Norwegian parliament appointees, deliberated in secrecy. Trumpās pre-deadline nod from Rep. Tenney cited the Abraham Accords; late surges from Netanyahu and others target 2026. Betting odds flipped: Polymarket gave Trump a 2.4% shot pre-deal, spiking to 18% post-announcement, trailing frontrunners like Yulia Navalnaya but eclipsing Sudanās aid networks. Trump, ever the showman, downplayed it Wednesday: āTheyāll find a reason not to give it to me, like always. But Obama got it for doing nothing!ā The jab reignited old feuds, with Obama allies decrying it as āpettyā amid Gazaās 68,000 toll.
Behind the scenes, the plot thickened. Trumpās son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, architects of the Abraham Accords, logged 200 hours in Doha, blending carrots (U.S. aid pledges) with sticks (sanctions threats). Ivanka Trump, in a poignant X post, lauded her fatherās āunbending leadershipā while praying for āhealing, unity, and lasting peace.ā Yet skeptics like Sen. Lindsey Graham cautioned: āItās a ceasefireāletās see phase two.ā Palestinian activists on X warned of a āTrojan horse,ā fearing Israelās post-hostage offensive. Even optimists, like

As the Nobel envelope awaits its unsealing in Osloās oak-paneled chamberāwhere laureates from Mandela to Malala are immortalizedāthe question hangs: Performance or providence? Trumpās deal, if it endures, could redefine his legacy, outshining Obamaās 2009 āvibesā award amid Afghanistanās quagmire. Detractors see a rushed bid for glory, timed to eclipse midterms and court his base. Supporters, from Modi to Musk (whose X algorithm boosted #TrumpNobel), view it as vindication of āAmerica Firstā realpolitik. Norwegian security has doubled around the institute, bracing for protests if Trumpās name echoesāor erupts if it doesnāt.
In Gazaās rubble-strewn streets, where mothers clutched radios for hostage news, the plot twist feels personal. āPeace or pause?ā one aid worker murmured to Reuters. For Trump, itās bothāand the Nobel could be the curtain call. As history bends, one truth endures: In the theater of global affairs, the audience decides if the applause is genuine or just echoes in the hall.
āI WILL END MY SUPER BOWL SPONSORSHIP IF THEY LET BAD BUNNY PERFORM AT HALFTIMEā ā Elon Musk Issues Shocking Ultimatum, NFLās Response Leaves Millions Stunned.ngocngoc

The Super Bowl has always been more than a game. It is Americaās biggest stage, a cultural juggernaut that blends sport, music, advertising, and national identity in one glittering broadcast. But this year, the halftime show is no longer just a performanceāit has become the center of aĀ
In a stunning ultimatum delivered this week, Musk declared that he wouldĀ
āEither the NFL cancels Bad Bunnyās halftime performance,āĀ Musk warned,Ā āor I walk away from one of the most valuable sponsorship deals in sports.ā
The ultimatum has shaken the worlds of sports, music, and business alike. Itās not just about a concert anymore. Itās about power, politics, cultureāand the price of tradition in an increasingly globalized entertainment landscape.
The Ultimatum Heard Around the World

Muskās statement was not delivered in a quiet boardroom. It was made loud and public. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk laid out his grievances in blunt terms:
āThe Super Bowl is supposed to be about America. Itās supposed to unite us around football, tradition, and family. If the NFL thinks it can hijack that moment to push globalist entertainment agendas, I want no part of it. Cancel Bad Bunny or cancel me.ā
The message was amplified instantly, garnering millions of shares and sparking an avalanche of responses. Within hours, Muskās words were headline news around the globe.
NFL Caught in the Crossfire
The NFL, already embroiled in culture wars over its entertainment choices, now finds itself at the center of a standoff with the worldās richest man.
Officially, the league has issued only a cautious statement:
āThe Super Bowl Halftime Show remains committed to celebrating diversity, creativity, and music on a global stage. We value our partners and sponsors but will not comment further at this time.ā
Behind the scenes, however, insiders say league executives are āstunnedā by Muskās move. Sponsorship deals with Tesla, SpaceX, and Muskās other companies have been estimated to be worthĀ tens of millions annually, and losing that revenue could rattle advertising strategies.
One source close to the NFL board admitted:
āThis is not just about money. Itās about optics. If they back down to Musk, they look weak. If they ignore him, they risk losing one of the most influential sponsors on earth.ā
At the heart of the controversy isĀ Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican megastar whose meteoric rise has made him the most-streamed artist in the world.
Bad Bunny is beloved by millions for his genre-bending music, flamboyant style, and unapologetic social activism. But those same qualities have made him a lightning rod for criticism among conservatives who argue that his presence on the Super Bowl stage represents a betrayal of American tradition.
Critics like Musk claim that featuring a Spanish-language artist at halftime is evidence of the NFL catering more to āglobal trendsā than to its American roots.
Supporters argue the opposite: that Bad Bunny represents the future of American culture, one that is diverse, bilingual, and global.
Muskās History of Culture War Battles
This is not the first time Elon Musk has waded into the culture wars.
- 
In 2022, he clashed with advertisers over Twitterās policies on free speech after acquiring the platform.
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In 2023, he boycotted Disney following comments he described as āanti-family.ā
 - 
He has repeatedly framed himself as a defender of ātraditional valuesā against what he calls āwoke globalism.ā
 
But this moveādirectly threatening the NFLās most profitable broadcastāis by far his boldest cultural intervention.
Business analysts estimate that Muskās sponsorship pullout could cost the NFLĀ hundreds of millions in ripple effects, given Teslaās role as one of the most recognizable brands featured in Super Bowl commercials.
Reactions: Shock, Fury, and Applause

The fallout from Muskās ultimatum has been swift and polarizing.
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Conservatives praised him as a patriot.Ā Fox News host Tucker Carlson declared:Ā āMusk is standing up for America when no one else will. The Super Bowl should be about football, not a lecture on woke culture.ā
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Progressives ridiculed the move.Ā Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:Ā āImagine being the richest man in the world and crying because millions of Americans want to dance to Bad Bunny.ā
 - 
Fans were split.Ā Some applauded Musk for drawing a line in the sand. Others blasted him for politicizing a game meant to unite the country.
 
One viral TikTok captured the mood:Ā āMusk says no Bad Bunny at halftime. Bad Bunny fans say no Musk in their Teslas. Who wins?ā
Bad Bunny Breaks His Silence
Until now, Bad Bunny had stayed quiet amid the controversy. But after Muskās ultimatum dominated headlines, the artist posted his own cryptic response on Instagram:
A photo of himself holding a football, captioned simply:
āI have the stage. I have the ball. Letās play.ā
The post racked up millions of likes within hours, with fans interpreting it as a defiant declaration that he would not be intimidated by billionaire threats.
Business World Reacts
The business community is also divided on Muskās move. Some see it as reckless, potentially damaging Tesla and SpaceXās reputations by entangling them in culture wars.
Others view it as brilliant brandingāMusk once again positioning himself as a maverick willing to confront institutions larger than himself.
Marketing strategist Rachel Goodman noted:
āMusk has turned what should be Bad Bunnyās moment into his own. Whether you agree with him or not, he knows how to dominate the narrative.ā
What Happens Next?
With the Super Bowl just weeks away, the NFL faces an unenviable choice:
- 
Cancel Bad Bunny, appease Musk, and face accusations of caving to billionaire pressure while alienating millions of fans.
 - 
Stand firm, keep Bad Bunny, and risk losing Muskās sponsorship money and influence.
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Seek compromise, perhaps by adding another performer alongside Bad Bunny to balance the optics.
 
Insiders say the NFL is scrambling behind closed doors, with meetings involving both advertisers and political consultants. The stakes are too high for the league to miscalculate.
A Cultural Showdown on the Worldās Biggest Stage
Whatās clear is that this yearās Super Bowl halftime show is no longer just about music. It is about who gets to define American culture, who holds the power to shape national identity, and whether billionaires like Elon Musk can dictate entertainment choices for millions.
As one columnist put it:
āThis isnāt a halftime show. Itās a tug of war over Americaās soul.ā
Conclusion: Tradition vs. Transformation
Elon Muskās ultimatum has turned the Super Bowl into the latest battleground in Americaās culture wars. By threatening to pull his sponsorship, he has raised the stakes far beyond one performance.
For some, he is standing up for tradition and protecting the Super Bowl from what they see as political infiltration. For others, he is a billionaire bully trying to dictate culture.
And for Bad Bunny, he is simply fuel for an even more defiant performance.
When the lights go down at halftime, the world wonāt just be watching a concert. Theyāll be watching the outcome of a cultural clash between the old and the new, between tradition and transformation, between Elon Muskās ultimatum and Bad Bunnyās music.
One thing is certain:Ā this yearās Super Bowl will be remembered not just for the game, but for the fight over who owns Americaās biggest stage.
