Japan's Prime Minister Mulls Nominating Trump for Nobel Prize, Sparking Debate

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to government sources cited by NTV television. The move comes as Trump visits Japan during a five-day Asian tour aimed at securing a trade war truce with China.

NTV reported that Takaichi is making arrangements to inform Trump of her intentions to submit his nomination. The timing aligns with Trump receiving a warm reception in Japan on Monday, marking the latest stop in his extended diplomatic mission across Asia.

This represents Trump's longest foreign trip since taking office in January. The president has already announced deals with four Southeast Asian countries during his first stop in Malaysia. His tour will conclude in South Korea, where he's scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

The potential Nobel nomination reflects Japan's strategic position in the ongoing US-China trade tensions. Japanese leaders have been working to maintain strong ties with both economic powers while the two nations engage in escalating tariff disputes that have rattled global markets.

Trump's Asian tour carries significant economic stakes. Investors and trade partners across the region are watching closely for signs of progress in US-China relations. Any breakthrough agreement could ease market volatility and restore confidence in international trade flows.

The Nobel Peace Prize nomination, if formally submitted, would need to come before the February 1 deadline for the following year's award. Previous US presidents who received the prize include Barack Obama in 2009 and Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, though both faced criticism over the timing and rationale for their selections.