Trump calls Norway 'shithole country' after not winning Nobel Peace Prize

President Donald Trump has sparked a diplomatic row by calling Norway a 'shithole country' during a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2026 Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay. Trump stated he does not want Norwegian immigrants in the United States because he did not receive the prize Source: El Tiempo. The outburst comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections and has drawn a measured response from Norway's foreign minister.

The outburst

Speaking to supporters on Sunday, Trump said: 'Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a shithole country, in fact' Source: ABC. He justified his rejection of Norwegian immigrants by saying 'because I didn't get the Nobel Prize' Source: Diario Libre. Trump contrasted Norway with Denmark, indicating a preference for Danish immigrants Source: La Vanguardia.

Trump's claimed merits

Trump argued he deserved the prize, claiming to have 'resolved eight wars' and saved 'at least 30 million lives' through mediations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and India and Pakistan Source: El Mundo (ES). He also took credit on social media for capturing Venezuelan ex-president Nicolás Maduro, freeing all Israeli hostages from Hamas, and halting Iran's nuclear program Source: Infobae. He criticized the committee for awarding the prize to Pillay, whom he called 'a liberal person who works at the United Nations and whom nobody has ever heard of' Source: El País (ES).

Reaction from Norway

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide responded on Monday by reiterating the independence of the Nobel Committee. 'He knows very well that the Nobel Committee is independent. We have reminded him of that, in case anyone had doubts, and that remains the case,' Eide told public broadcaster NRK Source: El Tiempo. The Norwegian government declined further comment Source: El País (ES).

Broader context

This is not the first time Trump has used such language. He faced harsh criticism in 2018 for using similar vulgar expressions to refer to Haiti and some African countries Source: Diario Libre. The remarks come as Trump's approval rating hovers around 31%, the lowest of his two terms, according to an Ipsos poll Source: El País (ES).