Fact check: Who nominated Obama in 2009 for Nobel Prize?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, none of the sources explicitly identify who nominated Barack Obama for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The analyses consistently show that while multiple sources confirm Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, the specific identity of his nominator^[1] remains undisclosed ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee made the decision to award Obama the prize for "his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" ^[2] and for "promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and a new climate in international relations" ^[5]. The committee announced this decision on October 9, 2009 ^[5].

Key procedural information emerges from the analyses: the Nobel Peace Prize nomination process is highly secretive, with nominee names kept confidential for 50 years ^[7]. The Norwegian Nobel Committee consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament who review nominations and create a shortlist ^[7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes that identifying Obama's nominator is publicly available information, but the analyses reveal this information is deliberately kept secret ^[7]. This represents a significant gap in understanding the Nobel Prize process.

Historical context missing from the question includes that Obama won the prize before completing his first year in office ^[3], which generated controversy. The analyses mention that a Nobel secretary later expressed regret about the Obama peace prize ^[4], suggesting internal disagreement within the Nobel organization about the decision.

Comparative context shows that Obama joined other U.S. presidents who received the Nobel Peace Prize, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter ^[3]. This historical precedent provides important perspective on presidential Nobel awards.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains an implicit assumption that the nominator's identity should be publicly known, when the Nobel Prize process specifically maintains secrecy around nominations for 50 years ^[7]. This creates a false expectation of available information.

The framing suggests there should be a simple, direct answer to who nominated Obama, but the institutional design of the Nobel Prize system prevents this information from being disclosed until 2059 at the earliest. Anyone claiming to know definitively who nominated Obama in 2009 would be making an unsubstantiated claim, as this information remains classified under Nobel Prize protocols.