Trump asked Norwegian minister about Nobel Prize, newspaper says

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FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question from the press during a visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 13, 2025.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

US President Donald Trump has made known his desire to win the Nobel prize bestowed to four of his predecessors.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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OSLO – When US President Donald Trump called Norway’s finance minister in July to discuss tariffs, he also told him he wanted the Nobel Peace Prize, Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported on Aug 14.

Several countries including Israel, Pakistan and Cambodia

have nominated Mr Trump for brokering peace agreements or ceasefires, and he has said he deserves the Norwegian-bestowed accolade that four White House predecessors received.

“Out of the blue, while Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down the street in Oslo, Donald Trump called,” Dagens Naeringsliv reported, citing unnamed sources.

“He wanted the Nobel Prize - and to discuss tariffs.”

In a comment to Reuters, Mr Stoltenberg said the call was to discuss tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Mr Trump’s call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stoere.

“I will not go into further detail about the content of the conversation,” he added.

Several White House officials, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were on the call, Mr Stoltenberg added.

The White House and the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not reply to requests for comment.

With hundreds of candidates nominated each year, laureates are chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, whose five members are appointed by Norway’s Parliament according to the will of Swedish 19th-century industrialist Alfred Nobel.

The announcement comes in October in Oslo.

The Norwegian newspaper said it was not the first time Mr Trump had brought up the prize in conversation with Mr Stoltenberg, a former secretary general of the Nato military alliance.

The White House on July 31 announced a 15 per cent tariff on imports from Norway, the same as the European Union.

Mr Stoltenberg said on Aug 13 that Norway and the US were still in talks regarding the tariffs. REUTERS

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