• President Donald Trump claimed Norway controls the Nobel Peace Prize during Monday airport remarks
• Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre corrected Trump, clarifying the independent committee structure
• Trump's statements link his Nobel disappointment to aggressive Greenland acquisition campaign

PALM BEACH, FL (TDR) — President Donald Trump told reporters Monday night that he does not care about the Nobel Peace Prize, while simultaneously claiming the award is controlled by the Norwegian government despite repeated corrections from Norwegian officials about the committee's independence.

Speaking at Palm Beach International Airport after attending the college football championship game in Miami, Trump addressed his weekend message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that tied his Nobel disappointment to his push for U.S. control of Greenland.

"If anybody thinks that Norway doesn't, control the Nobel Prize. They're just kidding. They have a board, but it's controlled by Norway."

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose five members are appointed by Norway's parliament for six-year terms, but the committee operates independently from the Norwegian government, according to the Nobel Foundation's statutes.

Presidential Message Links Peace Prize to Greenland

Trump's airport comments followed a text message he sent to Støre that was first reported by PBS News and later confirmed by White House officials. In the message, Trump wrote that after Norway decided not to award him the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, he no longer felt "an obligation to think purely of Peace."

"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 message, which was also forwarded to multiple European ambassadors in Washington by National Security Council staff, questioned Denmark's claim to Greenland and argued the world is "not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland."

Støre responded by reiterating Norway's support for Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland and clarifying the Nobel Committee's independence.

"I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government."

Claims of Ending Eight Wars Face Scrutiny

Trump's assertion that he stopped eight wars has faced extensive fact-checking from news organizations and analysts. The conflicts Trump claims to have resolved include Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, Thailand-Cambodia, Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Egypt-Ethiopia, Serbia-Kosovo, and Israel-Hamas in Gaza.

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However, several of these conflicts remain active or never constituted traditional warfare. The Egypt-Ethiopia dispute involves a long-running diplomatic disagreement over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, with no military combat. Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia resumed in December despite earlier cease-fire agreements brokered under Trump's pressure.

"I don't care what Norway says, but I really don't care about that. What I care about is saving lives, and I think I've saved tens of millions of lives."

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire announced in October has faced ongoing challenges, with Israel stating it will not move to the agreement's second phase until all hostages are released, while Hamas has accused Israel of continuing deadly strikes in Gaza.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader's Medal Gesture

Trump's Nobel Prize fixation intensified last week when Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, presented her medal to Trump during a White House visit.

"She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done."

Machado's gesture followed the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro two weeks prior, bringing him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Machado told reporters she gave Trump the medal "as a recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom."

The Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified before Machado's visit that a Peace Prize cannot be withdrawn, transferred or shared once awarded. Under Alfred Nobel's will and the Nobel Foundation's statutes, the title belongs solely to the recipient, even if the physical medal changes hands.

"The Nobel Prize and the laureate are inseparable. Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else's possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."

Greenland Standoff Escalates with Tariff Threats

Trump's Nobel comments emerged amid escalating tensions with NATO allies over his Greenland acquisition campaign. On Saturday, Trump announced 10% tariffs starting February 1 on eight nations that deployed limited military personnel to Greenland for a Danish-led Arctic exercise, including Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland.

Those tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1 and remain in place "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland," Trump stated on Truth Social.

The eight countries issued a joint statement Sunday condemning the tariff threats as undermining "transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

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White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the president's position, stating Trump "is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region."

Treasury Secretary Defends Greenland Strategy

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed the controversy during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, dismissing suggestions that Nobel Prize disappointment motivated Trump's Greenland policy.

"I think it's a complete canard that the president would be doing this because of the Nobel."

Bessent made the comment immediately after acknowledging he did not "know anything about the president's letter to Norway."

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated in a Facebook post Monday that tariff threats would not change Greenland's stance on sovereignty. Thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend protesting any U.S. effort to take control of their territory.

Should Trump's pursuit of the Nobel Prize influence American foreign policy decisions?

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