President tells Nordic leaders he no longer feels bound to think “purely of peace” after Nobel snub, escalating tensions with Europe over tariffs and Arctic sovereignty.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said the world will not be secure until the United States has “complete and total control” of Greenland, declaring that he no longer feels obligated to think “purely of peace” after failing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a written message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the president tied his comments directly to the Nobel decision, saying that because Norway “decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 wars plus,” he could now focus on what he considers best for U.S. interests. The message, confirmed by Støre’s office and shared broadly among governments, followed objections from Norway and Finland to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European allies over Greenland.
The exchange began after Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb sent a joint message urging de-escalation and requesting a phone call to discuss Trump’s tariff threats and Greenland policy. Trump’s response came shortly afterward.
“I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant,” Trump wrote, adding that he could now consider “what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
Trump has repeatedly pressed for U.S. control of Greenland, a vast, mineral-rich island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but enjoys broad autonomy. In his message to Støre, Trump again questioned Denmark’s sovereignty, arguing that Copenhagen cannot adequately protect Greenland from Russia or China and disputing the historical basis of Danish ownership.
Danish sovereignty over Greenland is grounded in binding legal agreements, including treaties dating back to 1814, and the United States has repeatedly recognized the island as part of Denmark. Danish officials reiterated that point this week while emphasizing that NATO allies have already taken steps to increase military presence and training in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Trump also linked his Greenland stance to NATO, saying he had “done more for NATO than any other person since its founding” and arguing that the alliance should now act in America’s interest. “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” he wrote.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Europe. Trump has warned that beginning Feb. 1, several European countries—including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland—could face a 10% tariff on goods exported to the United States if they oppose his Greenland plans.
European leaders reacted sharply. German and French officials condemned the tariff threats as “blackmail,” while the European Union said it would convene an emergency summit to consider its response. EU leaders stressed that their priority remains engagement rather than escalation but said countermeasures are being prepared if necessary.
Norway’s Støre emphasized that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee, not by the Norwegian government. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado received last year’s prize and later presented her medal to Trump during a White House meeting, though the Nobel Foundation has stated that prizes cannot be transferred or shared.
Greenland’s leaders also pushed back. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the tariff threats would not alter Greenland’s position, stressing that the territory is a democratic society with the right to determine its own future. Public unease on the island has grown as Trump continues to raise the possibility of U.S. control “one way or the other.”
As markets reacted to the prospect of a broader trade conflict and European leaders warned that a trade war would benefit no one, Trump doubled down on his stance, repeating that global security depends on American control of Greenland and signaling that peace, while still important, is no longer his sole guiding principle.
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