WASHINGTON (FN) — President Donald Trump told Norway’s prime minister that he no longer feels bound “to think purely of peace” after being denied the Nobel Peace Prize, linking his frustration to his repeated threats to seize control of Greenland.
In a text message to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, first reported by PBS and confirmed by an official in Støre’s office, Trump tied his stance on Greenland to the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision not to award him the prize. Trump has long coveted the honor and frequently claimed he deserved it for mediating international conflicts.
“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, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s message came after Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb texted him about the additional tariffs he had threatened over Greenland. “We believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate – so much is happening around us where we need to stand together,” the Nordic leaders wrote, according to an official in Støre’s office.
Trump later threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on goods from several European nations over their opposition to his Greenland plan. The threats have rattled NATO, the alliance based on collective defense, as members confront the prospect that one country might use economic or even military pressure against another.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a fellow NATO member, and both Copenhagen and Nuuk have dismissed Trump’s proposals as unrealistic. Protests erupted in Nuuk after his latest comments, with demonstrators waving flags and chanting slogans against what they described as threats to their sovereignty.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, lies in the Arctic between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and is home to more than 56,000 people. A former Danish colony, it is now an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with its own parliament and government while Copenhagen retains control of defense and foreign policy. The island’s strategic location, natural resources and U.S. military presence at Thule Air Base have made it a focal point of Trump’s interest, as he has argued that American control of Greenland is vital to national security.
In a statement, Støre said he has “clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the (Nobel Peace) prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.” Norwegian officials emphasized that the government has no role in the selection process.
The Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 peace prize to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic opposition, who last week gifted her medal to Trump when the pair met in Washington. Trump said it was “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
The Nobel Committee has since clarified that while the physical medal may change hands, the honor itself cannot be transferred. Officials underscored that the recognition remains with Machado, regardless of the symbolic gesture.
The episode highlights Trump’s tendency to connect personal grievances with foreign policy decisions, a pattern that has unsettled allies and raised questions about U.S. priorities in the Arctic. Analysts warn that his stance could heighten tensions in a region already marked by competition among global powers.
