OSLO — President Donald Trump has linked his renewed pursuit of Greenland to a perceived snub by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, according to a message sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
In the text message, which was confirmed by the Norwegian government on Monday, Trump stated that he no longer feels an obligation to prioritize peace because he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He suggested that this shift in philosophy has cleared the way for him to pursue U.S. control of the strategic Arctic territory.
“Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” Trump wrote. He added that while peace remains a predominant concern, he is now focused on “what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
The exchange has escalated a diplomatic standoff between Washington and its European allies. The message from Trump was a direct response to a missive from Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The Nordic leaders had expressed opposition to Trump’s plan to impose a 10% tariff on eight European nations, including Norway and Denmark, until a deal is reached for the United States to acquire Greenland.
Trump argued in his message that Denmark, which holds sovereignty over the autonomous territory, cannot protect the island from Russian or Chinese influence. He also questioned Denmark’s historical claim to the land, stating that “a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”
Prime Minister Støre told reporters on Monday that he has attempted to clarify to the U.S. president that the Norwegian government has no influence over the Nobel Peace Prize. The award is decided by an independent committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.
“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear,” Støre said in a statement. “Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter.”
In Greenland, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen dismissed the pressure from Washington, stating on social media that the territory will not be pressured by tariff threats. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on Monday, calling the use of economic coercion against allies “completely wrong” and warning that a trade war is in no one’s interest.
The White House has not officially commented on the leaked message. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking in Davos, downplayed the connection between the Nobel Prize and Greenland policy, calling it a “canard” while maintaining that the island is a vital strategic asset for U.S. national security.
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. While Machado symbolically presented her medal to Trump at the White House last week, the Nobel Committee has stated the prize is non-transferable.
Sources
- The Guardian: “Donald Trump links threats to seize Greenland to Nobel prize snub in letter” (Jan. 19, 2026)
- PBS NewsHour: “Norwegian leader says he received Trump message that reportedly ties Greenland to Nobel Peace Prize” (Jan. 19, 2026)
- CBS News: “Trump escalates Greenland standoff with allies, linking it to perceived Nobel Peace Prize snub” (Jan. 19, 2026)
- Associated Press: “Trump ties his stance on Greenland to not getting Nobel Peace Prize, European officials say” (Jan. 19, 2026)
- The Washington Post: “Trump ties Greenland takeover bid to Nobel Prize in text to Norway leader” (Jan. 19, 2026)
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