Politics

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store confirmed he received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump expressed disappointment over not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, saying it has changed his approach to global affairs and alliances. Store clarified to Trump that the Norwegian government does not decide who receives the prize. “I have explained clearly, including to President Trump, that the prize is given by an independent Nobel Committee and not by the Norwegian government,” Store stated. He mentioned that Trump’s message was a reply to his earlier text about Norway and Finland’s stance on Trump's tariff threats against EU countries regarding Greenland. “I can confirm that I received a text message from President Trump yesterday afternoon. It was in response to a short message I sent him earlier that day, on behalf of myself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. We expressed our opposition to his planned tariff increases against Norway, Finland, and some other countries,” he said. Store added, “We highlighted the need to ease tensions and suggested a phone call between Trump, Stubb, and myself on the same day. Trump’s reply came shortly after my message. It was his choice to share his response with other NATO leaders.” In his message, Trump claimed that Norway's decision not to award him the prize influenced his view on global matters and alliances. “Dear Jonas: Since your country chose not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping 8 wars plus, I no longer feel the need to only focus on peace, though it will always be important. I can now consider what is good for the United States,” Trump wrote. The message then shifted to Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that Trump has suggested the U.S. should buy. In the letter, Trump questioned Denmark's historical claim to the island and argued that its strategic weakness justified U.S. control. “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 just that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, too,” he stated.