President Donald Trump said Thursday he is not focused on winning the Nobel Peace Prize despite renewed discussion of the award during his administration's military campaign against Iran.
Speaking with the Washington Examiner, Trump downplayed speculation that his foreign policy record or the current conflict could influence the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
"I don't know," Trump said when asked if the campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, could help his chances with the prize. "I'm not interested in it."
Trump added that the topic has not come up in recent conversations with foreign leaders.
"No, I don't talk about the Nobel Prize," he said.
The Iran conflict revived discussion about Trump's past Nobel Peace Prize consideration. Over the past year, several governments and political leaders have publicly nominated or suggested Trump for the award, citing diplomatic initiatives and his "peace through strength" foreign policy approach.
His supporters have pointed to normalization agreements in the Middle East, negotiations aimed at easing global conflicts, and other diplomatic efforts as grounds for the nomination.
Trump has frequently argued that his peacemaking efforts merit recognition, though he has also criticized the Nobel committee in the past for overlooking his diplomatic achievements.
Trump's remarks came more than a week into the U.S. military operation targeting Iranian military capabilities and regional proxy networks, which the administration argues will ultimately stabilize the Middle East and improve global energy markets.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the campaign is aimed at confronting Tehran's longstanding support for anti-American militias and terrorist groups.
"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has actively and intentionally facilitated the killing of Americans while chanting 'death to America' and funding other bloodthirsty terrorists seeking to destroy the United States and all of Western Civilization," Leavitt said in a statement last week.
"Now, President Donald J. Trump is correcting decades of cowardice and holding those responsible for the deaths of Americans accountable."
Trump's comments came as the Pentagon investigates a Feb. 28 Tomahawk missile strike that hit Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, reportedly killing about 175 school-aged girls on the first day of the conflict.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that preliminary findings suggest the strike was carried out by U.S. forces.
Trump has said he will accept the results of the investigation but has also suggested Iran could have been responsible, speculating earlier this week that Tehran may have obtained Tomahawk missiles despite their limited distribution among U.S. allies.
During the brief interview Thursday, Trump also addressed questions about Cuba, which he has suggested could become a future focus of U.S. policy after operations in Iran wind down.
Asked whether possible action against the Cuban government could spark broader regional instability involving drug cartels or anti-American groups in Latin America, Trump dismissed the idea.
"That's not going to happen," he said.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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