A Nobel Peace Prize nomination for President Trump was fake news, according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
An anonymous American reportedly nominated the president for his “ideology of peace through strength,” according to Agence France-Presse.
“I can say that we have good reason to believe that [the nomination of Trump] is a fake,” Nobel Institute Director Olav Njølstad told Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the BBC reported.
“The same ‘fake’ nomination probably took place last year too,” Njølstad added, referring to a previous nomination by an American who did not want his name disclosed.
Njolstad refused to provide details about the faux nomination, which is being investigated by Norwegian police.
The Peace Research Institute of Oslo – an independent body that monitors Nobel nominations — said in early February that Trump’s name was on the prestigious list, AFP reported.
Nigerian-based Vanguard News recently reported that institute chief Henrik Urdal said a US citizen wanted Trump bestowed with the honor, according to the International Business Times.
Each year, Peace Prize nominations must be submitted by Jan. 31 and the winner is announced in early October.
Among those allowed to propose candidates are members of parliament and government, former laureates and some university professors.
The five members of the committee that picks the winner also are allowed to submit names during their first meeting of the year, which was held Monday.
While the list of candidates is kept secret for at least 50 years, those who make the nominations are allowed to reveal their choices.
The Nobel Institute said it had received 329 valid nominations for this year’s Peace Prize.
Unlike Trump, Barack Obama did win the Nobel Peace Prize only a year into his presidency in 2009 for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples.”