In a remarkable diplomatic escalation, former U.S. President Donald Trump has explicitly linked his failed Nobel Peace Prize aspirations to his persistent demand for American control of Greenland. The controversy erupted when Trump sent a text message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre accusing Norway of denying him the prestigious award.
Trump’s message, authenticated by CBS News, stated: “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… The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
Prime Minister Støre promptly clarified that the Norwegian government plays no role in Nobel Prize selections, which are determined by an independent committee. The 2025 prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who subsequently presented her medal to Trump—a gesture the Nobel Foundation emphasized does not constitute an official transfer of the award.
The Greenland dispute has triggered broader international tensions. Trump has threatened to impose escalating tariffs—starting at 10% in February and potentially rising to 25% by June—on eight NATO allies unless they support his Greenland proposal. He argues that Denmark cannot adequately protect the strategic Arctic territory from Russian or Chinese influence.
European leaders have pushed back strongly. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asserted that “Greenland’s future belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone,” condemning the proposed tariffs against allies as “wrong.” Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb attempted to de-escalate tensions by proposing a three-way call, but Trump reiterated his demand for U.S. control instead.