OSLO / WASHINGTON, 20 January 2026 — In a move that has rattled diplomats from Washington to Brussels, U.S. President Donald J. Trump sent a pointed letter to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, linking his ongoing campaign to assert U.S. control over Greenland with his frustration at not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.

The message, first reported by major outlets including PBS NewsHour and Reuters, was confirmed by Støre’s office on Monday.

Trump’s outreach — which Strøe says responded to a message from himself and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb urging de-escalation — contained sharp language that has baffled allies and ignited fresh controversy over U.S. foreign policy priorities.

In his reply, Støre was quick to underline a key constitutional point: the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent Norwegian Nobel Committee, not by the Norwegian government. Oslo insists it has no authority over Nobel decisions, a distinction repeatedly explained to the U.S. President.

The letter comes amid escalating tensions over Greenland — an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark — with Trump tying strategic concerns about Arctic security to what he perceives as a diplomatic snub.

European officials have condemned parts of the letter and many analysts see it as raising questions about transatlantic relations, NATO solidarity, and the use of personal grievances in diplomacy.

CONTENT OF TRUMP’S LETTER :
(Note: This is based on widely circulated text shared by journalists and officials. It has been confirmed in essence by Norway’s prime minister’s office.)

Dear Jonas:
Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping eight wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely about Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.
Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.
I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now NATO should do something for the United States.
The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.
Thank you!
President DJT
(End of letter text)

Wider Reaction and Diplomatic Ripples
Norwegian officials reiterated that Oslo cannot award the Nobel Peace Prize, stressing that an independent committee — not the government — selects laureates.

The letter’s linkage of international strategy to the Nobel Prize has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders at home and abroad, with some calling the rhetoric unconventional at best and destabilising at worst.

Trump’s broader Greenland push — including tariff threats on European countries unless they acquiesce — has prompted discussions within the EU about counter-measures and NATO about alliance cohesion.

Why This Matters

At the intersection of personal grievance and grand strategy, this episode illustrates how diplomatic channels can sometimes become entangled with domestic political narratives. Trump’s letter to Støre has become more than a bilateral exchange — it’s now a flashpoint in transatlantic relations, raising eyebrows about how world leaders weigh symbolic recognition like the Nobel Peace Prize against hard geopolitical objectives.