ISTANBUL 

The White House on Friday criticized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Venezuelan opposition leader rather than President Donald Trump, who had been lobbying heavily for the honor, adding that Trump will continue his efforts to promote peace.

"President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives," White House spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement on US social media company X.

“He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,” Cheung added.

The statement also criticized the Nobel Committee, claiming that it has “shown that it places politics over peace.”