OSLO/WASHINGTON — In a stunning diplomatic escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump has explicitly linked his aggressive pursuit of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a private message released by the Norwegian government on January 19, 2026.
The exchange, which has sent shockwaves through the NATO alliance, reveals a deeply personal dimension to the ongoing geopolitical standoff over the Arctic territory.
The “Nobel Snub” Letter
The controversy began after Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb sent a joint message to the White House, urging de-escalation over Trump’s recent 10% tariff threats against European allies.
Trump’s reply, which he reportedly instructed the National Security Council to forward to multiple European ambassadors, was blunt:
“Dear Jonas: 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… but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
The President went on to question Denmark’s “right of ownership” over Greenland, claiming “the World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
Global Reactions & Fallout
PM Støre clarified that the Nobel Committee is independent and the government has no role in awarding the prize. He reaffirmed that Greenland belongs to Denmark.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the pressure “unacceptable,” warning that a U.S. attack on a NATO ally would mean the end of the post-WWII security order.
| White House | Confirmed the message’s authenticity. A spokesperson stated Trump is “confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States.”
| NATO | European leaders issued a joint statement warning of a “dangerous downward spiral” and standing in “full solidarity” with Danish sovereignty.
The Economic Lever
The Trump administration has made it clear that the newly announced tariffs on European goods are a direct response to what it calls “symbolic” European troop deployments in the Arctic.
Trump has signaled these tariffs could rise to 25% by June 2026 if a deal for Greenland is not reached.
