Democrats hammer Trump over Greenland-Nobel letter: 'Unhinged and embarrassing'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

01/19/26 3:23 PM ET


Democrats on Capitol Hill slammed and mocked President Trump’s letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, in which the president elaborated on his motives for acquiring Greenland. In the letter shared with multiple European ambassadors, Trump questioned why Denmark has a “right of ownership” over the semi-sovereign territory. He also cited the Norwegian Nobel Committee not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize last year as why he is not interested in peace above all else.

“Dear Jonas: 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, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump wrote, according to NewsNation, The Hill’s partner network.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), who is on the Foreign Relations Committee, wrote on the social platform X on Monday that “these are the ramblings of a man who has lost touch with reality.” “He isn’t ok,” Murphy added. “He’s degraded significantly in the last year and he’s about to get us into a war with our allies.”

Støre, in a statement to Bloomberg, clarified that Norway’s government does not award the Nobel prizes.
“Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, I have several times clearly explained to Trump what is well known, namely that it is an independent Nobel Committee, and not the Norwegian government, that awards the prize,” Støre said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5695808-democrats-slam-trump-greenland-letter/

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Chris Murphy 🟧
@ChrisMurphyCT
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These are the ramblings of a man who has lost touch with reality. He isn’t ok. He’s degraded significantly in the last year and he’s about to get us into a war with our allies.
Nick Schifrin
@nickschifrin
NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:

Dear Ambassador:

President Trump has asked that the
10:34 AM · Jan 19, 2026

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Ruben Gallego
@RubenGallego
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We are now the enemy of the free world because a pathetic man got his feelings hurt.
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12:14 PM · Jan 19, 2026

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Andy Kim
@AndyKimNJ
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Unhinged and embarrassing, but also incredibly dangerous. Trump is doing lasting damage to our global position, which will harm our ability to keep America safe, secure, and prosperous.
Nick Schifrin
@nickschifrin
NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:

Dear Ambassador:

President Trump has asked that the
8:37 AM · Jan 19, 2026

[Blues Heron]

1. I wish they would demand he resign

[riversedge]

5. I think Trumpy would have a good laugh.

[Blues Heron]

10. Just say the words, put the concept out there every day. No let up, keep the pressure up.

[mcar]

8. Why? Do you think he would?

Do you think the Republicans in control would care what they say?

[Blues Heron]

9. To put it out there that's why. Maybe if the media picked it up it would snowball

Who gives a flying fuck about the pukes anyway?

[mcar]

13. Ah, so it's all on the Dems, is it?

Rs get a lifelong pass, apparently.

[Blues Heron]

14. Did I say that

[Scrivener7]

15. You suggested that there is more Democrats can do as we watch our Democracy implode.

And that perhaps it's not a good idea to sit back and wait for republicans to suddenly listen to reason.

That upsets the "nothing more can be done" posse.

[betsuni]

18. This whole time all Dems had to do is yell strong words loud enough to be "picked up" by the media and "snowball"

and everything will be okay. Oh, and tap their heels together three times. Easy. Why did they REFUSE to stop Republicans? Republicans have been patiently waiting and waiting for Democrats to stand up and have the COURAGE to fight but they REFUSED.



Apparently the fact that Republicans could stop this immediately has nothing to do with anything. Nuts.

[Aristus]

2. "I have several times clearly explained to Trump what is well known..."

Basically: "You're a complete fucking moron, and even speaking to you as simply and as clearly as I would to a child didn't do any fucking good."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. MaddowBlog-Trump connects his Greenland crusade to his failure to win a Nobel Peace Prize

“I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” the president said in a truly bizarre text message to Norway's prime minister.

In case there were any doubts, that utterly bonkers message Trump sent to the Norwegian prime minister? It’s entirely real.

He effectively argued, in writing, that his crusade for Greenland is partly the result of the Nobel committee hurting his feelings. #madking www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-19T15:39:53.345Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-connects-his-greenland-crusade-to-his-failure-to-win-a-nobel-peace-prize

But in case these circumstances didn’t seem quite ridiculous enough, Trump managed to take matters to a whole new level in a message he sent over the weekend to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, in which he suggested part of his Greenland crusade is rooted in his failure to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

The message, first published by PBS, read in its entirety:

Dear Jonas: 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, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT

....For now, let’s not dwell on the fact that Trump’s message was filled with several factual errors (he has not, for example, “stopped” eight wars). Let’s also brush past the fact that he apparently believes the Norwegian government is responsible for awarding Nobel prizes (it’s not).

Let’s instead consider the nature of the American president’s pitch: Norway hurt his feelings by failing to give him an award he wanted but did not earn, which means he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” and which further leads him to believe that the NATO alliance should simply let him buy an arctic island, which isn’t for sale and which does not want to be part of the United States, with money he does not have.

There’s been an ongoing conversation for quite a while about whether Trump deserves to be seen as a “mad king.” As the public digests his message to the Norwegian prime minister, it’s likely that conversation is poised to grow considerably louder.

[William Seger]

4. Power psychosis is a delusional mental illness, and it will only get worse (nt)

[Skittles]

7. and if he's out, Vance will be prez

we are so, SO fucked

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Wherever he's referred to as "a man", what they really meant to say was "a hollow mockery of a man". nt

[Figarosmom]

11. Why aren't republicans?

They should be mad as hell that he's such an embarrassment.

They aren't gaining anything any longer by keeping quiet or backing him.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Mikie is a couple seats away from losing his majority.

[Scrivener7]

16. You're comfortable with betting our Democracy on the notion that republicans will do something to stop its destruction?

The job of Democrats right now is to be the voice of opposition.

[Figarosmom]

17. Why would you think I'm comfortable with it?

I'm not "comfortable " with any of it. But I'd think there should be some republicans that are sick of this shit.

[Scrivener7]

19. Yes. And if they are shamed sufficiently and relentlessly enough

they might do something about it.

The shaming is our job as the opposition party.