US President Donald Trump called the Nobel committee's decision disgraceful. "This is an indelible stain on the country of Norway," he said at a rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday.

Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge and UN human rights chief, received the award for advancing peace and international law. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, who chairs the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said her career helped ensure that war crimes and genocide face legal consequences.

The 85-year-old responded from Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, saying she initially thought the news was a joke. She then joked, "If you clap a little bit more I may share this prize with Trump," prompting applause from the crowd.

During the same event, Trump claimed he had settled eight wars and was close to resolving two more, though he offered no proof. He attacked the committee's leadership, saying the award had lost credibility because of a small group of anti-democracy figures who oppose civilization.

Trump has repeatedly complained about missing the honor. Last year, the prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. White House officials then accused the committee of prioritizing politics over peace. In January, Machado gave her medal to Trump at the White House to recognize his support for her nation's freedom. Trump called the exchange a gesture of mutual respect on social media.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre explained last year that the committee operates independently from the Norwegian government. The Nobel organization also maintains that awards are permanent. Once announced, a prize cannot be revoked, shared, or given to someone else.