- Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay criticised Donald Trump's language during a Sky News interview following her historic win on 9 October 2026
- Pillay, born in Durban under apartheid, warned that irresponsible speech from leaders could inflame communities to anger and violence
- South Africans and the global Indian diaspora responded with an outpouring of pride after the Norwegian Nobel Committee named Pillay its 2026 laureate
Source: Getty Images
SOUTH AFRICA — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navanethem "Navi" Pillay used her first major interview following her historic win to call out United States President Donald Trump, warning that his characterisation of developing nations as "sh*thole countries" was dangerous and irresponsible.
Speaking to Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim in a remote interview conducted after the announcement, Pillay addressed Trump's language directly. Sky News posted the interview on 15 October 2026.
"He called the developing countries, to quote him, sh*thole countries. That's very hurtful," she said.
"People get angry with being characterized like that, especially formerly colonized countries."
Pillay links Trump's rhetoric to incitement risk
Pillay, who accepted the Nobel honour with humility, said she would let the award speak for itself but felt compelled to address the broader issue of political speech.
"Not only international law, but national law places a responsibility on political leaders to be careful of insightful speech and hate speech because their followers believe them and follow them," she said.
She added that South Africa and the rest of Africa were still living with the consequences of colonial dispossession, and that language of this kind "may well inflame people to anger and violence."
She also noted that Trump's comments extended beyond developing nations in general to her home country specifically:
"As well as my own country, South Africa."
View the clip on Facebook here:
From Apartheid Durban to Nobel Laureate
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Pillay as the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize recipient on 9 October 2026, citing her decades of work advancing international law and promoting peace. Born in Durban into a family of Indian Tamil origin during apartheid, Pillay built a legal career under extraordinary structural barriers. She went on to defend Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists before ascending to the South African High Court.
Her career later took her to The Hague, where she served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She also held the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. At the time of the award, she was serving as a judge on the International Court of Justice in proceedings in which Myanmar stands accused of genocide.
The Nobel Committee described her as one of the most respected international jurists of her generation, pointing to her independence, expertise, and steadfastness as the defining qualities of her contribution.
South Africans salute Pillay
South Africans reacted with widespread pride to the announcement.
Frans Schutte wrote:
"Very wise and insightful Lady. South Africa is very proud of what you have accomplished."
Laura Trollip added:
"Navi Pillay is a worthy winner, and totally deserves the Nobel prize."
Sadhana Jagath said:
"Bold woman Navi Pillay. May you be safe and protected for speaking out."
SA condemns US sanctions after Trump's criticism of Pillay
In a related article, Briefly News reported on South Africa’s condemnation of US sanctions against the International Criminal Court and the criticism directed at Navi Pillay after her 2026 Nobel Peace Prize win.
The US imposed full blocking sanctions on the court on 9 October, freezing assets under its jurisdiction and barring American entities from conducting transactions with it. The move followed President Donald Trump’s reported frustration at not receiving the prize and renewed scrutiny of Pillay’s work.
Source: Briefly News
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