During a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, Donald Trump expressed his anger at not receiving the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by referring to Norway as a "terrible country."
"I don't want anyone from Norway. I have no interest in dealing with Norway. Honestly, Norway is awful. It's really become a terrible place," proclaimed the former U.S. president to his audience.
Trump went on to say that he would rather welcome immigrants from Denmark than Norway and bluntly justified his preference: "because I didn't get the Nobel Prize."
This year's award was given on October 9 to South African jurist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, 85, honored for her significant contributions in advocating for human rights and international law.
Trump had already reacted strongly when the prize was announced, calling the Nobel Committee's decision "disgraceful" and claiming the Nobel had been "forever tarnished," while describing Pillay's selection as an "indelible stain" on Norway.
In the same Sunday rally, Trump argued he deserved the prize because he had "resolved eight wars" and had "two more in progress."
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide responded calmly on Monday, reiterating the independent operation of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from the Oslo government.
"He knows very well that the Nobel Committee is independent. We have reminded him, in case anyone was wondering, and it remains so," Eide told public broadcaster NRK.
The Committee is composed of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, making decisions without executive intervention, a distinction Trump has routinely overlooked while directing his criticism at the entire country.
The incident includes a significant historical irony. Back in January 2018, Trump used the same term —"shithole countries"— to describe Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations and questioned why more immigrants from Norway weren't arriving, which he then presented as a desirable model. Eight years later, the perspective has completely shifted.
Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after a career that includes presiding over the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda—where sexual violence was judicially recognized as a tool of genocide—and serving as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
Upon learning of the award in Nuremberg, Pillay joked that she might share it with Trump if the audience applauded a bit more.
The remarks came amid the U.S. midterm election campaign, set for November 3, 2026, adding an evident element of electoral mobilization to Trump's outburst.
The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is scheduled for December 10 in Oslo, with a prize fund of 12 million Swedish kronor.
Understanding the Nobel Peace Prize Controversy
Why did Donald Trump criticize Norway?
Donald Trump criticized Norway after failing to receive the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, expressing his frustration and disappointment during a rally.
Who won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?
The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African jurist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay for her work in human rights and international law.
How does the Norwegian Nobel Committee operate?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently from the Norwegian government, with its members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.