US President Donald Trump has suggested that his failure to receive the Nobel Peace Prize has freed him from focusing solely on peace, as he once again pressed his case for US control of Greenland.
In a private message sent to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump accused Norway of denying him the prestigious award. Støre later responded by explaining that the Norwegian government does not select the Nobel Peace Prize winner, noting that the decision is made by an independent committee, which awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, confirmed both the authenticity of the message and its contents.
‘No Longer Obliged To Think Only Of Peace’
In the text message obtained by US media, Trump wrote that Norway’s decision not to award him the prize had altered his outlook.
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace,” Trump said. He added that while peace would remain a priority, he could now focus on what he believed was “good and proper” for the United States.
“The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland,” the message continued.
Prime Minister Støre said he received the text on Sunday, replying to an earlier message he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb had sent to Trump. According to Støre, their message expressed opposition to potential tariff increases linked to the Greenland dispute and urged de-escalation, including a proposal for a three-way phone call later that day.
Greenland And Trump’s Security Claims
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and has intensified his argument that the US must take control of Greenland for national security reasons.
The vast but sparsely populated Arctic territory, which is rich in natural resources, occupies a strategic position for missile early-warning systems and maritime surveillance in the region.
Trump has restated his desire for the United States to purchase Greenland and has not ruled out the possibility of military force to take the territory—despite Denmark being a fellow member of the Nato alliance.
Tariff Threats And Nato Pressure
Over the weekend, Trump warned that he would impose a 10% tariff on imports from eight Nato allies starting in February if they opposed his proposed takeover of Greenland. He also threatened to increase the tariff to 25% by June.
In his message to Støre, Trump argued that Denmark lacks the ability to defend Greenland against threats from Russia or China, and questioned the legitimacy of Denmark’s claim to the island.
“Why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” Trump wrote. “There are no written documents—just that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago. But we had boats landing there too.”
Trump concluded by asserting that he had contributed more to Nato than anyone since its founding and insisted that the alliance now owed the United States greater support.
European Leaders Push Back
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that any decision about Greenland’s future “belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone,” calling the use of tariffs against allies “wrong.”
Later on Monday, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt were scheduled to meet with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Last week, Denmark and Greenland—alongside Nato partners—agreed to increase military activity and exercises in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Several European countries also deployed small contingents of troops to Greenland as part of a reconnaissance mission.
Trump’s Claim Of Ending Eight Wars
Trump has claimed that he has ended eight wars since beginning his second term last year.
According to the White House, these include conflicts involving Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.
Nobel Prize Controversy
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado for her opposition leadership in Venezuela.
Following the US-led seizure and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas—on allegations of drug trafficking and other crimes—Trump did not back Machado as Venezuela’s next leader. Instead, he supported Maduro’s vice-president as interim head of government.
Machado, who has expressed admiration for Trump, met him at the White House last week and handed her Nobel medal to him. The Nobel Foundation later reiterated that the prize cannot be transferred, even symbolically.
