A storm of ridicule and outrage erupted online after US President Donald Trump linked his push to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a letter addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump said he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of peace.”
In the same letter, the US president reiterated his threats against Greenland, saying the United States needed “complete and total control of Greenland,” the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The letter triggered a wave of disbelief and mockery across social media, with critics portraying the episode as emblematic of reckless leadership and personal grievance driving US foreign policy.
Mary L. Trump, the US president’s niece and an author, said the letter defied even her low expectations. “When I saw this letter, I literally thought, ‘This is too stupid even for him.’ I should have known better,” she wrote.
When I saw this letter, I literally thought, “This is too stupid even for him.” I should have known better. pic.twitter.com/HvlCZQiXG3
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) January 19, 2026
Others focused on what they described as Trump’s narcissism. Ed Krassenstein, a political commentator, called the letter “insane,” saying it showed why “you don’t elect a narcissist to be your president.”
He added, “Is this what you voted for, Trump’s supporters?”
The letter that Donald Trump sent to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway is insane!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 19, 2026
This is why you don't elect a narcissist to be your president.
Is this what you voted for, Trump's supporters? pic.twitter.com/m9duEO2asE
Several social media commentators said they initially assumed the letter was fake, with geopolitics analyst, Rahul S.A,. saying he thought it was a joke until its authenticity was confirmed. Even for Trump, he wrote, the message was “so plainly daft, so remarkably ignorant, so flatulently crass, and so vilely untruthful,” that it seemed impossible.
When I first saw the many social media posts about a Donald Trump letter to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, I genuinely thought it was a joke.
— Rahul SA 🇿🇦 (@Rahul_AJ_1990) January 19, 2026
I thought that even for a childlike buffoon with no sense of professionalism or decorum, something so plainly daft, so… pic.twitter.com/EQoH7kce1P
As confirmation spread, reactions grew sharper. Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of the New York Health Campaign, urged journalists to confront US lawmakers directly. She called on reporters to display the letter publicly and ask Republicans, “Why we shouldn’t impeach him when he wants to attack our allies because he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Can reporters please print out Trump’s letter to the Norwegian PM on a giant poster, and ask Republicans in Congress why we shouldn’t impeach him when he wants to attack our allies because he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize?
— Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) January 19, 2026
I’m tired of Republicans saying “I didn’t see it.” pic.twitter.com/uTdpsGD2Ol
Some observers highlighted what they saw as political sycophancy surrounding the US leader. François Valentin, mocked former MAGA figures in Europe who initially dismissed the letter as “fake news,” only to praise it moments later once its authenticity was confirmed, calling it “cultural revolution levels of sycophancy.”
This is frankly hilarious
— François Valentin (@Valen10Francois) January 19, 2026
Ex MAGA "spokesman" for France first says Trump's Norway letter is obviously FAKE NEWS for dumb journalists
And minutes later, when its authenticity is confirmed, finds the letter remarkable
Cultural revolution levels of sycophancy pic.twitter.com/cKXzZQIaN3
Other X users expressed disbelief and alarm. One user wrote that the letter read like it had been authored by “a raving, hopelessly narcissistic madman,” warning that Trump appeared willing to risk a major war in Europe over Greenland. Another said the episode showed Trump would “start World War III” out of personal resentment.
It’s hard to believe this is real, and you would be forgiven for thinking a raving, hopelessly narcissistic madman, and lunatic wrote this letter to the Prime Minister of Norway, but sadly it was our President, Donald Trump.
— The Patriot Voice (@TPV_John) January 19, 2026
“I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of… pic.twitter.com/6KSf2ZbScP
Calls for impeachment also resurfaced on social media, with commentator Krown City King saying Trump had effectively put in writing that he wanted Greenland because he was not awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
“The prime minister of Norway confirmed this letter is real,” he wrote. “We are in the dumbest timeline ever.”
Trump put in writing that he is taking Greenland because Norway didnt “give him” a Nobel Peace Prize.
— Krown City King (@KrownCityKing) January 19, 2026
Whsy are we doing here? It’s long past time for impeachment and removal.
The Prime Minister of Norway confirmed this letter is real…
We are in the dumbest timeline ever… pic.twitter.com/kOVomTpWYR
Other posts framed the incident as an unprecedented diplomatic embarrassment. Beachnut, wrote that Trump appeared angry at Sweden, Denmark and Norway simultaneously, saying he sent a “nasty, insulting letter” to an ally while signing it as president.
“Somebody in the White House needs to call the doctor,” the post said.
Trump is angry at Sweden because he didn't get a peace prize and Denmark won’t give him Greenland, so he writes a horribly nasty, insulting letter to the premier of Norway and signs it “45th President of the United States.”
— Beachnut (@CrimPracMan) January 19, 2026
Somebody in the White House needs to call the doctor. pic.twitter.com/zKkDIXvQA3
Academic commentator, The Provost said he was tempted to grade Trump’s letter like a failed student assignment.
"I can’t fight off the temptation to grade this in exactly the same manner I would if he were a student of mine," he wrote. "So give me like an hour or two so I can pick up another red pen. [yes, it’s real. I checked."
Just saw Trump’s maniacal letter to Norway’s PM about Greenland.
— The Provost / سيدة الفتنة (@MsEntropy) January 19, 2026
I can’t fight off the temptation to grade this in exactly the same manner I would if he were a student of mine.
So give me like an hour or two so I can pick up another red pen.
[yes, it’s real. I checked.] pic.twitter.com/y6H5mU6kSC
The backlash comes as Trump continues to insist that Greenland is vital to US security, citing exaggerated claims of Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic territory.
Denmark is a fellow member of NATO, the US-led military alliance founded on the principle that the members defend each other in the event of an external attack. There has never been a military attack by one NATO member against another since the alliance was formed in 1949.
Denmark has repeatedly warned that any US military action in Greenland would spell the end of NATO. The country has received support from European allies, with Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK deploying small numbers of personnel as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.
Trump, however, dismissed the prospect of resistance from the European Union to his push to take over Greenland, saying it would not amount to “too much.”