Trump tells Norwegian Prime Minister he is not limited by peace considerations

US President Donald Trump’s message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has been confirmed by a source close to the matter and Store himself. In the message, Trump stated that he no longer feels obligated to “think purely of peace” following Norway’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize. The authenticity of the message was verified by both sources.

Trump claimed to have ended eight wars, including brief conflicts and ongoing hot wars such as Israel’s conflict with Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, analysts have questioned the accuracy of this claim.

The message was directed to Store, who clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent Norwegian Nobel Committee, not by Oslo’s political leadership. In a written response, Store reiterated this point.

Trump has expressed bitterness about missing out on the annual prize in the past. Recently, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal during a visit to the White House. The right-wing Machado received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for leading Venezuela’s opposition.

During his visit, Machado said she offered the medal to Trump “as a recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom”. Trump later confirmed on social media that he had accepted the medal from Machado.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute previously stated that a peace prize cannot be transferred or shared once awarded. The title belongs solely to the recipient, even if the physical medal changes hands.

In December, Gianni Infantino, chief of FIFA, handed Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, further solidifying his connection with the Republican leader. This decision raised eyebrows globally due to FIFA’s proclaimed policy of political neutrality and potential ethics violations.

Source: Al Jazeera