Trump declares Norwegian immigrants unwelcome after Nobel Peace Prize awarded to South African jurist

President Donald Trump used a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday to announce that Norwegian immigrants would not be welcome in the United States. He connected the remark specifically to the Nobel Committee's choice to grant the current Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, a South African legal expert who served as a judge at the International Criminal Court and as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Trump said he would still accept immigrants from other countries, but not from Norway because he did not receive the prize.

The remarks were made a week before the United States’ November 3 mid‑term elections and were reported by several news outlets, including Punch, Euronews and MercoPress. In his speech, Trump described Norway in harsh terms, calling it a “shithole country” and stating that it had become a “shithouse”. He also reiterated his long‑standing desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, recalling previous attempts to influence the award and previous expressions of disappointment when the prize went to other figures, such as Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in 2025.

Background

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a five‑person committee appointed by Norway’s parliament. This year’s laureate, Navi Pillay, was recognised for her work in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted. The committee’s chairman, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, highlighted Pillay’s instrumental role in international justice. Trump has openly campaigned for the honor in previous instances, exerting pressure on the committee both during his initial presidency and in subsequent periods, while once characterizing the omission of his name from the recipients list as a shameful and humiliating ruling.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide responded to Trump’s comments on the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, stating that the Nobel Committee is independent and that Norway respects that independence. He reminded the president that the committee’s decisions are not influenced by the Norwegian government, a point also made by Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, in earlier discussions with Trump.

Why it matters

Trump’s statements could affect diplomatic relations between the United States and Norway, as the foreign minister’s clarification underscores the sensitivity of the issue. The remarks also come at a politically charged time, with the mid‑term elections approaching, and may influence public perception of immigration policy among Trump’s supporters. Norway’s emphasis on the committee’s independence serves to protect the credibility of the Nobel institution and to distance the country from any perception of political interference.

What happens next

No official change to U.S. immigration policy regarding Norway has been announced. The Norwegian government has reiterated its stance on the Nobel Committee’s autonomy, and it remains to be seen whether Trump’s comments will lead to any formal diplomatic discussions or adjustments in immigration procedures ahead of the upcoming elections.