President Donald Trump dismissed any interest in the Nobel Peace Prize during a late-night conversation with journalists. His statement was in contrast to a letter he had sent to Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Prime Minister, using the prestigious award as a basis for his assertive position on Greenland. The Norwegian government verified the letter’s authenticity, made public on January 19 after being released under Norway’s freedom of information laws.
When reporters questioned Trump about the letter, he asserted that he had no interest in the Nobel Prize. However, his letter to Støre suggested otherwise, claiming he felt no obligation to prioritize peace after failing to receive the award from Norway.
Trump’s correspondence to the Norwegian leader, as per the full exchange released by Norway’s government, 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, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
The letter concluded with Trump declaring that “the World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.” He challenged Denmark’s claim over the Arctic territory, arguing that no written documents support its claim, which contradicts established facts. He further suggested that Denmark could not safeguard Greenland against Russia or China.
The initial text message from Støre was sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The two leaders proposed a phone call with Trump to discuss Greenland and tariff announcements, urging a de-escalation of issues where allies should unite.
On Monday, the Norwegian Prime Minister clarified that the Nobel Prize is conferred by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government. He also affirmed Norway’s support for Denmark on the Greenland issue. The Norwegian Nobel Committee consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump’s stance at a session in Davos, Switzerland, although he admitted he was unaware of the president’s letter to Norway.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was won by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who presented her medal to Trump at the White House on January 15. She expressed that Trump was deserving of the award, prompting the Nobel Committee to clarify that the prize cannot be revoked or symbolically transferred to others.
During the late-night press briefing, Trump erroneously claimed that Norway governs the Nobel Prize, a misrepresentation of the committee’s independent status. He also credited himself with saving tens of millions of lives and ending eight wars, citing conflicts such as those between Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, among others.
On Saturday, Trump announced a 10 percent import tax starting February 1 on goods from the eight nations that backed Denmark and Greenland. The tariffs, which he later reversed his decision about, would increase to 25 percent if no agreement is reached by June 1. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated on Monday that nothing can be ruled out until Trump does.
A joint statement was issued in response to Trump’s intimidating remarks regarding Greenland by eight European nations: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Britain. They stated that tariff threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” They pledged to enhance Arctic security as a mutual transatlantic interest.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to defuse the situation, stating that the Arctic region “will require greater attention, greater investment and stronger collective defense” and that he does not anticipate any military action.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union foreign policy chief, affirmed that while the bloc had no interest in instigating conflict, it would stand its ground. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other alliance officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Protests against Trump’s threats took place in Greenland, with thousands participating. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen affirmed that they will not succumb to pressure. Greenland, a self-governing territory, remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
European troops have been deployed to Greenland as allies evaluate regional security needs. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson is among the officials considering options for a permanent military presence.
Trump asserted that he has done more for NATO than any other individual since its inception and called on NATO to reciprocate for the United States. The president attended a college football championship game in Miami, Florida, before the text exchange with Støre took place.
The dialogue between Trump and the Norwegian leader happened on Sunday, with Støre’s message being sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The full text was made public on Monday when Norway released it under its freedom of information laws.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the authenticity of Trump’s message, stating that the president believes Greenlanders would benefit from being safeguarded by the United States against contemporary threats in the Arctic region.
The controversy has brought attention to Trump’s claims of averted wars and deserving international recognition for his foreign policy achievements. Throughout his political career, he has openly expressed his desire for the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Trump backed away from his plan to impose 10% tariffs on eight European countries—including Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands—after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, January 21. After their discussion, Trump posted on Truth Social that they had reached “the outline of a future agreement” involving Greenland and the wider Arctic region, and he confirmed he would not move forward with the planned tariffs. Trump also dismissed the idea of using military force to seize the Danish territory, a possibility he had previously left open. Still, diplomatic officials said there is no deal granting the United States control or ownership of Greenland, and Denmark stressed that its sovereignty over the region remains a firm boundary.
