Trump claims Japanese prime minister nominated him for Nobel Peace Prize

President Trump claimed Friday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach a peace agreement with North Korea.

The president, speaking during a White House presser, remarked that he would “probably never get” the annual award, which is given to those who make significant strides toward achieving world peace and diplomacy.

{mosads}”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 [Peace] Prize,” Trump said Friday.

“He said, ‘I have nominated you … respectfully on behalf of Japan. I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize,’ ” Trump continued, before adding that he would “probably never get it” even though “many other people feel that way too.”

Trump did not specify when Abe allegedly nominated him for the award.

Trump predicted late last year that he would “never” win the Nobel Peace Prize. He had been nominated early in 2018 by two Norwegian lawmakers for the 2019 prize after he signed an agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Abe has praised Trump publicly for his attempts to cool tensions with North Korea.