Summary: A group of Republican lawmakers nominated President Donald Trump for his role in bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula.
In a move to acknowledge the work President Donald Trump has done to secure peace on the Korean Peninsula, 18 Republican lawmakers have nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize, according to Fox News.
A letter signed by all 18 was sent by Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind, to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. In the letter, they state that Trump worked “tirelessly to apply maximum pressure to North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region.”
The letter continued, “His Administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history. The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table.”
Some of the others to sign the letter include Reps Mark Meadows of North Carolina, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Diane Black of Tennessee, Matt Gaetz of Florida, and Steve King of Iowa.
“Although North Korea has evaded demands from the international community to cease its aggression for decades, President Trump’s peace through strength policies are working and bringing peace to the Korean peninsula. We can think of no one more deserving of the Committee’s recognition in 2019 than President Trump for his tireless work to bring peace to our world.”
The nomination will be for the 2019 year since the 2018 award nomination period ended in February. For the 2018 award, there are 330 candidates; the winner will be announced in October. Nominations must come from significant figures such as “members of national assemblies and national governments (cabinet members/ministers) of sovereign states as well as current heads of state.”
Messer said to Fox News, “The only reason the North Korean dictator is coming to the table is because President Trump has stared him down and shown him that we have a leader in America who means business and who has changed the dynamic in major ways. That’s why I think he has to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The Korean leaders met for the first time in years to declare a formal end to the Korean War. North Korea also indicated they will be ending their nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile testing program.
While some question his tactics and use of language towards North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, Trump supporters argue that he was going for a “peace through strength” approach, much like President Ronald Reagan took against the Soviet Union. Messer explained, “The peace through strength approach to national security is delivering results, not just in North Korea. ISIS is on the run and I think the world is waking up to the fact that there’s a new sheriff in town and the world’s most important leader today is Donald Trump.”
South Korean President Moon Jae-in also endorses Trump winning the award. According to Reuters, Moon said, “President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize. What we need is only peace.”
Moon also long been a supporter of Trump’s efforts to end the Korean crisis, stating Trump “deserves big credit for bringing about the inter-Korean talks” and “it could be a resulting work of the U.S.-led sanctions and pressure.”
Awarding Trump with the prize could also rectify the controversial selection of President Barack Obama in 2009, as many U.S. conservatives see it. Obama had just taken office and had not made any significant achievements in foreign policy at the time. Even Obama admitted in his acceptance speech that past recipients were “far more deserving of this honor than I.”
Obama also tried to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula during his time as president but did not make much progress. He allegedly told Trump that the crisis would be his “biggest problem” in foreign policy.
Messer added, “If the Nobel Peace Prize means anything, President Trump should have a great shot at getting it. After all President Obama received it for little more than running a glamorous campaign for president. Trump has shown major steps toward delivering peace.”
Other past presidents honored with the award include Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson, and Theodore Roosevelt. Former Vice President Al Gore also received the award.
Do you think Trump should receive the award? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about the issues with North Korea, read these articles:
- China Says North Korea Pledges Commitment to Denuclearization
- Americans Banned from North Korea
- Trump Announces New Sanctions on North Korea
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