Matt Gaetz signs letter nominating Donald Trump for Nobel Prize

Northwest Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz was one of 18 Republican members of Congress to sign on to a letter nominating President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize as recognition for recent progress in the ongoing peace talks with North Korea.

“We, the undersigned members of the United States Congress, respectfully nominate Donald J. Trump to receive the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean War, denuclearize the Korean peninsula, and bring peace to the region,” the letter reads.

The one-pager goes onto chronicle Trump’s dealings with the two Koreas, saying his administration “successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history” and highlighting South Korean President Moon Jae-In’s recent statement that Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The letter concludes: “We can think of no one more deserving of the [Norwegian Nobel] Committee’s recognition in 2019 than President Trump for his tireless work to bring peace to our world.”

The nomination letter was penned by Indiana U.S. Rep. Luke Messer with Gaetz and another 16 representatives signing on in support.

Gaetz, elected in 2016, has been an outspoken supporter of Trump since taking office. Last year, the Panhandle Republican hitched a ride on Air Force One and spoke at a Trump rally. Earlier this year, he dismissed controversial remarks Trump made regarding Haiti, El Salvador and countries in Africa.

Talks of Trump getting the Nobel Peace Prize were brought about after a recent, unexpectedly positive meeting between Moon and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. Kim went so far as to say he would give up his nuclear weapons – which he claims could hit the continental U.S. – in exchange for an end to the Korean War and a guarantee the U.S. would not invade North Korea.

Those skeptical of Kim’s intentions have said Nobel talks should be shelved until the peace process, still in its infancy, produces measurable results.

If Trump were to win the award, he’d be the fifth U.S. President so honored, behind Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.

The letter is below.