Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre responded after President Donald Trump said he was ready to abandon “peace” as the primary goal of his efforts to obtain control of Greenland. Gahr Støre confirmed on Monday that he had spoken with Trump via text about the president’s plan to implement new tariffs as leverage to force Denmark into a deal over Greenland — and that he had initially suggested a phone call to “de-escalate” tensions. “I can confirm that this is a text message that I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump. It came in response to a short text message from me to President Trump sent earlier on the same day, on behalf of myself and the President of Finland Alexander Stubb,” Gahr Støre explained. “In our message to Trump, we conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland, and select other countries. We pointed to the need to de-escalate and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb, and myself on the same day,” Gahr Støre said, adding, “The response from Trump came shortly after the message was sent. It was his decision to share his message with other NATO leaders.” Gahr Støre went on to say that he’d addressed Trump’s efforts to link the actions of the Nobel Committee and the actions of the Norwegian government, explaining that the committee was entirely independent and was not influenced by the government in any way. He also offered his full-throated defense of Denmark with regard to Trump’s attempts to gain control of Greenland. “Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” he said. “We also support that NATO in a responsible way is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump, what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.” President Trump sparked outrage when he wrote to Gahr Støre, saying in part, “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.”