A leaked and now confirmed letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to Norway’s government has ignited global controversy. In the letter, Trump vents frustration over being denied the Nobel Peace Prize, linking the snub directly to U.S. foreign policy and renewed demands for control over Greenland. Norway has acknowledged the letter’s authenticity but firmly rejected any responsibility for the Nobel decision, stressing the committee’s independence. The episode has alarmed allies, fueled debates over leadership style and diplomacy, and raised fresh tensions in Europe as personal grievance appears to spill into global strategy.
00:00This story is unusual even by Donald Trump standards.
00:30In a letter dated January 18, 2026 and confirmed a day later by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stor, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed open frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
00:46The letter, leaked and now verified, wasn't just a personal complaint. It linked Trump's disappointment directly to U.S. foreign policy.
00:57Specifically, to Greenland.
01:01The context matters. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize went not to Trump, but to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
01:11A decision that came despite Trump's repeated claims that he deserved the prize for what he calls major diplomatic achievements.
01:20In the letter addressed to Norway's Prime Minister and shared with other European leaders, Trump wrote,
01:27considering 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.
01:39He added that while peace would remain predominant, he could now quote, think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.
01:50And that's where Greenland enters the picture. Trump reiterated his demand for what he called complete and total control of Greenland, accusing Denmark, which administers the territory, of being unable to protect it from threats like Russia or China.
02:06He even questioned Denmark's right of ownership anyway, asking why do they have a right of ownership anyway?
02:13Trump also claimed he had done more for NATO than anyone since its founding, suggesting the alliance owed the U.S. support for its interests in Greenland.
02:23His claim of stopping eight wars remains unverified. Experts say it likely references past Middle East deals and talks with North Korea during his earlier presidency.
02:36Norway's Prime Minister responded calmly, confirming the letter's authenticity, but stressing that the Nobel Committee operates independently from the Norwegian government.
02:46A point, he says, he has explained to Trump more than once.
02:51So why is this causing such a stir? Critics say the letter blurs the line between personal grievance and global diplomacy, linking a prestigious award to national security policy is being seen as petty, eagle driven and damaging to U.S. credibility.
03:10Others point to basic factual errors, blaming Norway for a decision it does not control and warning that threatening a NATO ally over a prize snub risks straining transatlantic relations.
03:25The tone of the letter, combative, rambling, self-congratulatory, has also raised questions about stability and judgment, especially with global tensions already high.
03:37Reactions have been sharp. Critics have called the letter unhinged, childish and embarrassing.
03:44Some European voices even suggested it should trigger serious concern about leadership fitness.
03:50Supporters see it differently, arguing Greenland's strategic value, rare earth minerals and Arctic security justify tough talk, and that this is classic Trump leverage, not a literal threat.
04:04Analysts say the interest in Greenland isn't new, but tying it to a Nobel Prize snub adds a new and controversial layer.
04:14For now, the letter has dominated headlines, roiled markets and reignited debates about power, personality and what leadership looks like on the global stage.
04:25And whether personal validation is shaping world policy.
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