Trump for Peace? Japan’s Prime Minister Plans to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Trump was recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
During President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026, citing his efforts to promote peace during his presidency in the Middle East and North Korea.
"In such a short period of time the world started to enjoy more peace," Takaichi told reporters at Reuters. "I myself was so impressed and inspired by you, Mr. President."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Takaichi will nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, emphasizing this gesture as a symbol of a strong relationship between the United States and Japan in light of “a NEW GOLDEN AGE for the U.S.-Japan Alliance.”
This isn’t the first time, however, that Japan has been connected to a Trump nomination for the prize. In 2019, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated Trump for the Peace Prize, after reportedly being asked to do so by the US government.
The Nobel Committee rules state that the nominators and nominees are to be kept confidential for 50 years after the winner is named, meaning verification of whether Takachi has actually nominated Trump is not yet available.
Trump has long expressed interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, citing accomplishments such as the Abraham Accords as a reason for his nomination. While the Abraham Accords did help ease relations between Israel and other Arab nations, they did not have a lasting impact. In fact, tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine have escalated.
Leaving many to wonder whether Trump meets the requirements of the Nobel Committee’s standards for peace efforts, as the prize is typically awarded to those who have created long-term contributions to peace that can be sustained.
In addition to this, Trump has also been known to escalate global tensions in the past, such as his withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018 and trade wars with China, and a long-term dispute with North Korea.
During his first term as President, Trump also withdrew the United States from several international agreements aimed at promoting peace worldwide, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council.
With all these other factors in question, it raises doubts about whether Trump is the right candidate for an award like this, as many of his efforts have had a limited long-term impact and have caused more harm than good.
The fact that the nomination was announced publicly also raises the question of whether this nomination was due to genuine admiration or a strategic move for an alliance. Either way, this nomination will likely lead to bigger conversations over the purpose and concept of the Nobel Peace Prize and how these awards have been largely politicized.