In an extraordinary display of gratitude, over 2,500 Cambodian Buddhist monks marched in Phnom Penh on August 10, 2025, to thank President Donald Trump for his role in brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand. The monks, joined by nuns and residents, publicly endorsed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “visionary diplomacy” in halting a deadly five-day border conflict in July that killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000. The ceasefire, negotiated after Trump’s July 26 call to both nations’ leaders threatening to stall trade talks, paused the worst fighting since 2011.
Ven. Chhoeng Bunchhea, vice-president of the Cambodian Buddhist Monk Council, praised Trump’s intervention as a historic contribution to world peace, with billboards in Phnom Penh lauding him as the “Peace President.” The nomination, announced by Hun Manet on August 7, marks Trump’s third for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, following endorsements from Pakistan and Israel for his roles in other ceasefires. Critics, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, question the permanence of the truce, noting unresolved border disputes. Despite this, the monks’ support underscores Trump’s growing global influence, with some analysts suggesting the nomination may also reflect Cambodia’s bid for favorable U.S. trade terms. As the Nobel Committee prepares to announce its 2025 laureate in October, Trump’s peacemaking efforts continue to spark global debate.
