Donald Trump has tied his escalating threats to seize control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel peace prize, according to an extraordinary letter sent by the United States president to Norway's prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.
In the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed by Støre on Monday (via VG), Trump said that after being passed over for the prize he no longer felt obliged to think "purely of peace".
We don't know how this could have affected Trump's decision to push for the territory (in real terms, probably nothing), but the remarks come as Trump intensifies pressure over Greenland, and threatens tariffs against eight European allies.
"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," Trump said, adding he could now "think about what is good and proper" for the United States.
In response, Norway's prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said that he had "clearly explained, including to Trump, what is well known: the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee". And even if the prize is given away (like María Corina Machado did), the status of Nobel peace prize laureate cannot be transferred...