During a campaign rally in Port Huron ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, President Donald Trump slammed Norway, calling it a "shithouse country" and insisting that Norwegians should not be allowed into the United States because he was snubbed by the Nobel Committee. He blamed the award of the 2025 Peace Prize to former UN rights chief Navi Pillay for his perceived slight.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to seek the Nobel Peace Prize since returning to the White House in January 2025, framing the accolade as a personal vindication. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, known for its independent deliberations, elected Pillay as a recognition of her work on human rights and international law.
In response, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide reminded the press that the Nobel Committee operates independently of any government influence, stressing that the award was not a political tool. He added that the U.S. has no policy change regarding Norwegian immigration.
The president’s remarks echo a 2018 incident in which he used vulgar language to disparage Haiti and several African countries, prompting international condemnation. The latest outburst has drawn criticism from Norwegian diplomats and civil society groups.
The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a formal statement, and Norwegian officials say the incident will be reported to the U.S. Embassy for diplomatic dialogue. The next step will likely involve a bilateral meeting to address the diplomatic fallout and reaffirm both countries’ commitment to respectful engagement.