Someone keeps submitting fake Nobel Peace Prize nominations for Trump

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 1 March 2018

The Norwegian Nobel Committee never divulges the identities of people and organizations being considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, at least if the nominations are legitimate. But this week, the committee disclosed that somebody had fraudulently nominated President Trump for the prize, this year and last. "We verify all nominations, at least the ones with a shadow of doubt," Olav Njolstad, the secretary of the five-member Nobel committee, told The New York Times on Wednesday.

Not just anyone can nominate a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize — you have to be a head of state, past recipient, lawmaker, Cabinet member, or certain university professor or official, to name some examples. Last year's Trump nomination letter was subjected to a lengthy forensic examination, and Njolstad told the Times it's fair to assume that the forged nominations were purported to have been from a nominator who said, when contacted, that they were not legitimate. Oslo police Inspector Rune Skjold said his economic crimes unit had been in touch with the FBI, suggesting that the forger is in the U.S., and police believe the same person is responsible for both forged nominations.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.