[305][306] Throughout the latter part of 2017, as tensions between the U.S. and North Korea persisted, Carter recommended a peace treaty between the two nations,[307] and confirmed he had offered himself to the Trump administration as a willing candidate to serve as diplomatic envoy to North Korea.[308]

Views on successive presidents
Carter began his first year out of office with a pledge not to critique the new Reagan administration, stating that it was "too early".[309] He sided with Reagan on issues like building neutron arms after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan,[310] though frequently spoke out against his administration, denouncing many of its actions in the Middle East;[311] in 1987, Carter insisted that he was incapable of preserving peace in the Middle East.[312] Carter condemned the handling of the Sabra and Shatila massacre,[313] the lack of efforts to rescue and retrieve four American businessmen from West Beirut in 1984,[314] Reagan's support of the Strategic Defense Initiative in 1985,[315] and his claim of an international conspiracy on terrorism.[316] In 1987 he also criticized Reagan for conceding to terrorist demands,[317] the nomination of Robert Bork for the Supreme Court,[318] and his handling of the Persian Gulf crisis.