Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her intention to nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told reporters, confirming earlier reports from Japanese media citing a government source.
The Nobel Peace Prize has long been a passionate ambition of the Republican president, who claims to have ended several armed conflicts around the world since returning to the White House.
“In such a short period of time, the world has begun to enjoy more peace,” Japan’s newly elected prime minister told the U.S. president during their meeting. “You, Mr. President, impress and inspire me,” added Sanae Takaichi.
Takaichi also thanked Donald Trump for his “steadfast friendship” with the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was her mentor. “I remain impressed and inspired by you,” she told Trump.
For his part, the U.S. president assured the Japanese prime minister that Washington remains an ally of Tokyo ‘at the highest level,’ at a time when the United States is pressuring Japan to increase its defense spending.
“I have always had great love and respect for Japan. I want to assure you that this will be a privileged relationship. We are allies at the highest level,” Trump said.
Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized her wish to inaugurate a new ‘golden era’ in relations between the two countries.
