by Kylie Handler, editor
A group of 18 Republican lawmakers officially nominated President Donald Trump for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize in an effort to honor his work for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The letter was sent by Rep. Luke Messer to the Norwegian Nobel Committee and 17 other member signed the letter stating Trump has worked “tirelessly to apply maximum pressure to North Korea to end its illicit weapons programs and bring peace to the region.”
“His Administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history,” the letter says.
Take a look at a copy of the signed letter here —
JUST IN: @RepLukeMesser released his and several other members of Congress's nomination of President @realDonaldTrump to the #Nobel committee for the Nobel Peace Prize. https://t.co/1SgfuLu9ry pic.twitter.com/WgYPWV9pjr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 2, 2018
“The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table,” the letter explains.
The letter signatures include Reps Mark Meadows, Marsha Blackburn, Matt Gaetz, Diane Black, and Steve King.
“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,” the letter says. “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 lawmakers nominated Trump for the 2019 prize because nominations for the 2018 award were closed in February.
According to the Nobel Prize’s website, a nomination is only considered valid if a person in specific categories submits it — including “members of national assemblies and national governments (cabinet members/ministers) of sovereign states as well as current heads of state.”
Messer has floated the idea of nominating the president for the award since March. “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,” Messer told Fox News. “That’s why I think he has to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump supporters over the weekend in Michigan chanted “No-bel, No-bel, No-bel,” as Trump discussed his progress with North Korea.
But, some others believe that Trump may not deserve the award because he used fiery language to describe the North Korea dictator — such as “rocket man” and warned he was on a “suicide mission for himself.”
Supporters of the president argue that his aggressive tactics were actually “peace through strength” and it also proved successful for former President Ronald Reagan when he faced down the Soviet Union.
“The peace through strength approach to national security is delivering results, not just in North Korea,” Messer said. “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.”
“If the Nobel Peace Prize means anything, President Trump should have a great shot at getting it,” Messer said. “After all President Obama received it for little more than running a glamorous campaign for president. Trump has shown major steps toward delivering peace.”
Even Senator Lindsey Graham offered up some support on the possibility that Trump could win the award stating that if Trump was chosen, he deserves the award.
“President Trump, if he can lead us to ending the Korean War after 70 years and getting North Korea to give up their nuclear program in a verifiable way deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and then some,” Graham said.
“I want to be there,” Graham told Fox News of a potential award for Trump. “It may be the first time the Nobel Peace Prize was given and there was mass casualties because I think a lot of liberals would kill themselves if they did that.”
–Kylie Handler is a news editor for The Horn News