President Donald Trump has directly connected his failure to receive the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to his push for the United States to take control of Greenland.
At a Glance
- Trump wrote to Norway’s PM that, without the Nobel, he no longer feels bound to “think purely of Peace”
- The letter arrived January 18, the same day he warned Denmark on social media
- Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre neither awards the Peace Prize nor governs Greenland; it is a Danish territory
- Why it matters: Trump’s stance strains NATO unity and raises questions about U.S. Arctic policy
Trump’s Letter to Norway
Trump’s one-page note, released by PBS NewsHour reporter Nick Schifrin and confirmed by Støre’s office, opens with a blunt premise.
“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, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, not the prime minister, selects Peace Prize winners. Five members appointed by parliament vote in secret; Støre had no role in Trump’s loss.
Trump presses the point anyway. “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.”
He ends with a demand. “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.”
Parallel Social Media Warning
On the same day the letter was dated, Trump used Truth Social to amplify the threat.
“NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland,'” he posted. “Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump.”
NATO Allies React
Allied leaders quickly distanced themselves from Trump’s position.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters, “The future of Greenland is a decision for Greenland, and for the Kingdom of Denmark. We are NATO partners with Denmark, and so our full partnership stands.”
He cited Article 5, the mutual-defense clause, and Article 2, which stresses democratic values. Article 5 states that an armed attack against one ally “shall be considered an attack against them all,” obliging members to respond.
Nobel Confusion
Although Trump did not win the Peace Prize, he briefly held the 2025 medal. On January 15, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado visited the White House and handed him her award.
“I presented the President of the United States the medal, the peace, the Nobel Peace Prize,” she told Fox News afterward, calling it “in recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
The Nobel Committee responded on January 9 with a public statement: “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Greenland’s Status
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Copenhagen handles foreign affairs and defense, while Nuuk governs most domestic matters. The island hosts a major U.S. air base at Thule, part of America’s ballistic-missile early-warning network.
Denmark is a founding NATO member. Any U.S. move against Danish sovereignty would test the alliance’s founding principle of collective defense.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s letter ties personal grievances over the Peace Prize to strategic policy
- The claim ignores both Nobel procedures and Denmark’s legal sovereignty
- Same-day social posts show coordinated messaging, not an off-hand remark
- NATO allies are reaffirming support for Denmark, signaling internal strain
