WASHINGTON — Norway’s prime minister said Monday he received a message from President Donald Trump amid rising tensions over Greenland, a text in which the U.S. leader reportedly suggested he no longer felt bound to think only about peace because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
The message to Jonas Gahr Støre, first reported by PBS, comes as relations between Washington and several close allies strain over Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, a self-governing territory within NATO member Denmark.
As part of that pressure campaign, Trump announced Saturday that starting in February the United States would impose a 10 percent import tax on goods from eight countries, including Norway. He said the move was meant to push European nations that have backed Denmark and Greenland toward negotiations.
Those countries responded with sharp criticism. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, however, tried to cool tensions Monday. Although the White House has not ruled out taking control of Greenland by force, Starmer said he does not expect military action.
“I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” he said.
Even so, the message to Støre threatens to deepen a rift between the United States and Europe that is already strained by disputes over the war in Ukraine, earlier tariff fights, defense spending and migration policy.
Over the weekend, thousands of Greenland residents marched to oppose any attempt to take over the island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that tariff threats would not change their position.
“We will not be pressured,” he wrote. “We stand firm on dialogue, on respect, and on international law.”
The Danish navy’s inspection ship HDMS Vaedderen sails off Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
In a social media post, PBS said Trump wrote to Støre:
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 ended with: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
PBS reported the text was shared with several European ambassadors in Washington.
Støre confirmed Monday that he did receive a text from Trump but did not disclose its contents. The White House did not reply to a request for comment.
Danish soldiers disembark at the harbor in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Støre said the message was a response to an earlier note he sent along with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. In that message, they objected to the tariff announcement, urged de-escalation and suggested a phone call among the three leaders.
Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” Støre said. “As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, 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.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently, though its five members are appointed by Norway’s parliament.
Trump has long expressed interest in winning the peace prize. The committee awarded it last year to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Last week, Machado presented her Nobel medal to Trump, who said he planned to keep it, though the committee has said the prize cannot be revoked, transferred or shared.
Danish soldiers disembark at the harbor in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Trump said the new tariffs were partly in response to the recent deployment of small numbers of European troops to Greenland, though he also suggested the taxes were leverage in talks with Denmark.
European governments say the troops went to the island for Arctic security training, in line with Trump’s own concerns about possible interference by Russia and China.
Starmer called the tariff threat “completely wrong” and said a trade war benefits no one.
He added that “being pragmatic does not mean being passive and partnership does not mean abandoning principles.”
Six of the eight countries targeted by the tariffs are members of the European Union, which acts as a single trade bloc. European Council President Antonio Costa said Sunday that EU leaders are ready “to defend ourselves against any form of coercion.” He is expected to call a summit later this week.
Starmer said Britain, which is not in the EU, is not planning to impose retaliatory tariffs.
“My focus is on making sure we don’t get to that stage,” he said.
Denmark’s defense minister and Greenland’s foreign minister are scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Monday, a meeting arranged before the latest escalation.
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