Updated May 3, 2018 - Economy & Business

Trump’s new quest: A Nobel may prove irresistible

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The idea of winning a Nobel Peace Prize for progress with North Korea may prove irresistible to President Trump.

What we're hearing: While Trump has privately ridiculed President Obama for receiving a Nobel too soon, Trump is intrigued by the idea of winning one himself, according to sources familiar with his thinking.

  • Trump responded with delight when the crowd at a Michigan rally last weekend began chanting “No-bel! No-bel!” Trump replied: "Nobel!"
  • Then on Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook off the suggestion that he should get the prize by saying that Trump can take it.

Consider the big picture: Elites will never fully accept Trump, and he never stops his quest to prove them wrong.

  • A Nobel would give him perhaps even greater bragging rights than the presidency.
  • So is he really willing to do anything too disruptive with China on trade, that might get in the way of the North Korean prize and the history books?

But, but, but: Would the Europeans let Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize if he extinguishes the Iran deal this month?

  • And the WashPost noted: "The mere mention of Trump — the man who dubbed Kim 'Little Rocket Man,' boasted about his larger nuclear button and promised to unleash on North Korea 'fire and fury like the world has never seen' — as a Nobel peacemaker may seem, to many, incongruous."

P.S. A group of House Republicans is lobbying for a Nobel for Trump because of his work on North Korea, AP's Kevin Freking reports:

  • "Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., made the suggestion in a letter ... sent to members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It was signed by 18 Republicans."

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