Trump Cites Nobel Snub to Justify Greenland Push and New Tariffs
Updated (2 articles)
Trump Sends Message to Norway After Nobel Snub President Trump emailed Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on January 19, stating he no longer feels obligated to think solely about peace after the Nobel Committee declined to award him the prize for ending eight wars, though he added peace would remain “predominant” [1][2]. The note arrived hours after Støre and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb publicly opposed Trump’s announced tariffs on several allied nations [1][2]. Trump used the correspondence to link the Nobel decision directly to his renewed focus on securing Greenland for the United States [1][2].
Tariff Threat Targets Eight NATO Allies On the same day Trump announced a 10 percent tariff effective February 1 on imports from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, with a possible increase to 25 percent by June 1 unless a Greenland agreement is reached [1]. He framed the duties as leverage to force a “Complete and Total” purchase of Greenland, describing the measures as essential to U.S. bargaining power [1][2]. The tariff plan follows the leaders’ protest against the policy and intensifies diplomatic pressure on the affected countries [2].
Greenland Control Framed as Security Imperative In the message, Trump questioned Denmark’s historic claim to Greenland, noting the lack of written ownership documents and citing early boat landings as justification [2]. He claimed the United States has contributed more to NATO than any individual since its founding and argued that NATO should act in America’s interest, asserting that global security depends on total U.S. control of Greenland [2]. Officials in Washington tie the push to Arctic missile‑defense needs against Russia and China, while critics warn it aligns with resource extraction ambitions [1].
Norwegian Officials Confirm Receipt and Clarify Nobel Process Prime Minister Støre confirmed he received Trump’s letter and emphasized it followed his and President Stubb’s joint protest of the tariff announcement [2]. He reminded Trump that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee, not by the Norwegian government, underscoring the procedural separation [2]. The clarification seeks to distance Norway from Trump’s interpretation of the prize’s significance [2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
Newsweek: Trump No Longer Feels Obligation for Peace After Nobel Prize Snub: Details Trump’s text to Norway, the 10 % tariff on eight allies, and the strategic framing of Greenland as a security asset, while noting diplomatic backlash and expert commentary .
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[2]
CNN: Trump Tells Norway He No Longer Feels Bound to Think Purely of Peace After Nobel Prize Snub, Calls for Greenland Control: Highlights the same message, adds Trump’s rhetorical claim of NATO contributions, and includes Stoere’s confirmation and clarification of the Nobel Committee’s independence .
Timeline
1949 – NATO is founded as a collective defense alliance, a milestone that later underpins Trump’s claim he “has done more for NATO than any other person since its founding” and his push to align NATO actions with U.S. interests in the Arctic. [1]
Jan 2026 – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado hands her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump, provoking backlash in Oslo and framing the Nobel snub that Trump later cites as a catalyst for his Greenland push. [2]
Jan 19, 2026 – President Trump writes to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, stating, “I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant,” after Norway’s Nobel Committee declines to award him the prize for “stopping eight wars.” [1][2]
Jan 19, 2026 – In the same message, Trump questions Denmark’s ownership of Greenland, demanding “Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” and asserts his unparalleled contributions to NATO since its 1949 founding. [1][2]
Jan 19, 2026 – Støre confirms receipt of Trump’s text, noting it follows his and Finland’s protest against newly announced U.S. tariffs on eight allied nations tied to the Greenland dispute, and proposes a same‑day telephone conference with Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. [2]
Jan 19, 2026 – Trump announces a 10 % tariff on Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom effective Feb 1, warning it will rise to 25 % by June 1 unless a “Complete and Total” Greenland deal is reached, using economic pressure to advance his Arctic ambitions. [2]
Jan 19, 2026 – Former Norwegian ambassador Kåre Aas remarks that Trump’s Greenland‑focused message “reveals more about President Trump than anything else,” highlighting the personal and geopolitical tone of the outreach. [2]
Jan 19, 2026 – Støre clarifies that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee, not the Norwegian government, underscoring the procedural independence of the award that Trump claims to have been snubbed by. [1]