Japan's new PM nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to the New York Post, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt told journalists that Takaichi announced her intention to “nominate the president for the Nobel Peace Prize” during a bilateral meeting with Trump, who is visiting Japan on an official state visit.

Leavitt’s comments were reported by White House press pool journalists.

The nomination adds to a growing list of international endorsements for Trump, who has openly coveted the prize since his January 2025 inauguration. Takaichi specifically praised Trump’s “unwavering commitment to world peace and stability,” citing his involvement in brokering a Gaza ceasefire and resolving a longstanding border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times, with at least 12 formal nominations reported. Notably, in December 2024, U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney nominated him for his role in brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a nomination in July 2025, highlighting Trump's contributions to Middle East peace efforts.

Other international figures and entities have also nominated Trump, including leaders from Pakistan and Cambodia, recognising his involvement in various global peace initiatives.

Despite these nominations, Trump did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025. The award was instead given to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her efforts in promoting democratic rights and advocating for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.

Following the announcement, the White House criticised the Nobel Committee's decision, accusing them of placing "politics over peace." Trump himself expressed disappointment, asserting that he deserved the prize for his contributions to global peace.

The Nobel Peace Prize was established by the 1895 will of Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. Nobel’s will stipulated that the prize should be awarded annually to the person or organisation that “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

The prize is administered by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, appointed by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget). It is awarded annually in Oslo, Norway, unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are presented in Stockholm. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded since 1901 and is one of the most prestigious international recognitions for efforts in diplomacy, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.

By Khagan Isayev