President Donald Trump declared that Norwegian immigrants are no longer welcome in the United States because he failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize. He shared these comments during a rally in Michigan, where he expressed his frustration regarding the selection process.
He stated, “Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a s—house country, actually.” This sudden shift in his rhetoric follows years of active lobbying for the award. The President previously put pressure on the Nobel committee, which consists of five members appointed by the parliament of Norway, to acknowledge his efforts in peacemaking.
Trump claimed he told his wife, Melania, that receiving the honor would be a great moment before the final announcement was made. When he did not win, he described the committee as a group of “radical ideologues” who are “enemies of civilization.”
Trump even called the decision to overlook him a “disgraceful and embarrassing” act that remains an “indelible stain” on Norway
Despite his remarks, there is no evidence that the current administration has implemented a new policy regarding immigrants from Norway or Denmark. He noted that he would welcome people from Denmark but specifically excluded Norwegians because he did not get the Nobel Prize. He told the crowd, “so I don’t want anybody from Norway.”
The prize was awarded earlier this month to Navi Pillay, a former UN human rights chief from South Africa. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, the chairman of the committee, stated that Ms. Pillay was recognized for her work in ensuring that war crimes and genocide are prosecuted. Trump referred to Ms. Pillay as a woman that nobody ever heard of. He also mentioned that he asked if the committee could provide a second award, questioning why he was not considered.
Ms. Pillay, who served as the first non-white female judge of the High Court of South Africa, reacted to the situation with humor. When she arrived at the Nuremberg court to applause, she told the crowd, “If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump.” The committee later clarified that once a prize has been announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred under any circumstances.
The Norwegian government has attempted to explain its lack of influence over the decision in the past. Jonas Gahr Støre, the prime minister of Norway, previously told Trump that the committee operates independently of the government. Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian foreign minister, echoed this sentiment during an interview with the broadcaster NRK on Monday. He noted that the President knows the committee is independent and that the government has reminded him of that fact.
This is not the first time a Nobel winner has faced criticism from the President. Last year, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the award and faced significant pushback from him. She eventually gave him her medal during a meeting at the White House, claiming it was a gesture to recognize his commitment to the freedom of her country.
Trump also repeated his claim that he has ended eight wars, suggesting his record should have been enough to earn him the recognition he sought.
Published: Oct 26, 2026 04:00 pm