None more deserving of FIFA Peace Prize than Trump

The White House has hit back at critics of Donald Trump being awarded the FIFA Peace ​Prize, saying there is none more deserving than ‌the U.S. president.

Global soccer governing body FIFA gave Trump the inaugural award at the World Cup draw in December for "promoting peace ​and unity around the world", triggering condemnation from ​human rights groups and activists in the lead-up to ⁠the World Cup.

Australian soccer player Jackson Irvine said ​this week that giving the award to Trump made a mockery ​of FIFA's Human Rights Policy, while Norway's soccer federation said FIFA should abolish the award.

The White House responded by saying Trump's "Peace through Strength ​foreign policy" had ended eight wars in less than ​a year.

"There is no one else in the world more deserving ‌of ⁠FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," White House spokesman Davis Ingle said ​in a statement.

The ​U.S., which ⁠is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July ​19, launched a military strike on Venezuela ​a month after ⁠the draw for the tournament was made and began joint airstrikes with Israel on Iran on February 28.

Trump frequently invokes ⁠his ​success at resolving international conflicts and has ​said on numerous occasions that he should be awarded the Nobel Peace ​Prize.

- Reuters