Japanese leader doesn’t deny nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declined to comment on President Trump’s claim that Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize due to his efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. 

“In light of the Nobel committee’s policy of not disclosing recommenders and nominees for 50 years, I decline to comment,” Abe said when asked about Trump’s comment in Parliament, according to The Guardian. 

“I never said I didn’t [nominate him],” Abe added when asked a follow-up question from a lawmaker. 

{mosads}The Guardian noted that neither Abe nor his official spokesperson denied that he nominated Trump for the distinguished award. 

Abe praised Trump for his efforts to negotiate with North Korea, saying that the U.S. president “has been decisively responding toward resolving North Korea’s nuclear and missile problems, and last year he held historic U.S.-North Korea summit talks.”

Trump said Friday from the White House Rose Garden that Abe had nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach a peace agreement with North Korea.

“In fact, I think I can say this. Prime Minister Abe of Japan gave me the most beautiful copy of a letter that he sent to the people who give out a thing called the Nobel Prize,” Trump said. “He said, ‘I have nominated you … respectfully on behalf of Japan. I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize.’ “

Trump added that he would “many other people” despite “many other people” who thought he was deserving of the honor.

A Japanese newspaper reported over the weekend that Abe nominated Trump for the award after receiving a request to do so from the U.S. government. 

An unidentified Japanese government official told the newspaper that the government made the request after Trump’s first summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, according to Reuters.