Trump says he resolved 8 wars but was denied the prize

Tells supporters he wants no relationship with Norway

Norwegian foreign minister says Trump's anger is misdirected

Nobel Committee is independent of Norwegian government, minister says

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday about efforts to combat taxpayer fraud. [EPA]
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday about efforts to combat taxpayer fraud. [EPA]

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Norway with a crude insult — calling it a "sh*thouse country" — after failing once again to win the Nobel Peace Prize this year. The Norwegian government pushed back, stressing that the Nobel Committee, which selects the prize's recipients, is an independent body.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in an interview with the country's NRK broadcaster on Monday that Trump was directing his anger over the Nobel snub at the wrong target, according to Reuters and other outlets.

Eide said Trump, who is in the middle of an election campaign, appeared to be talking more than usual because his party's situation was not going particularly well.

He added that Trump was well aware the Nobel Committee operates independently, emphasizing that the Norwegian government plays no role in selecting the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Trump had publicly vented his frustration over the prize at a weekend campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan.

He repeated his longstanding claim that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, telling supporters, "I've solved eight wars, and there will be two more."

"I don't like Norway," Trump said. "Frankly, Norway is a terrible country — it's actually become a sh*thouse country."

He added that he wanted "no relationship" with Norway, making no effort to conceal his grievance.

Trump also dragged immigration into his broadside against Norway.

He blamed recent unrest in France during protests over high prices on immigration, saying he would welcome migrants from some countries but not from Norway.

His reason: "Because they didn't give me the Nobel Prize."

This is not the first time Trump has directed his anger at Norway.

When the Norwegian Nobel Committee selected Navi Pillay — a South African judge and human rights lawyer — as this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate earlier this month, Trump called the decision "an indelible stain on the nation of Norway."

Last year, Trump also publicly expressed his displeasure after again missing out on the prize.

That year's Nobel Peace Prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Even after the announcement, Trump insisted he deserved the award, pointing to his claims of having ended multiple wars.

Months after the announcement, he sent a text message directly to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

"Since your country has decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize, even though I have ended more than eight wars, I no longer feel obligated to think only of peace," Trump wrote at the time.

Unlike the other Nobel prizes, the Peace Prize is awarded in Norway. While the physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine prizes are decided by relevant Swedish institutions, the Nobel Peace Prize is selected and presented by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

However, the Nobel Committee is an independent body that operates separately from the Norwegian government.

Despite Trump's crude remarks, Norway said it would maintain its diplomatic relationship with the United States.

"We value our long-standing relationship with the United States very highly, and Norway's foreign policy remains steadfast," Eide said.

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sjy@heraldcorp.com