Yasin Gungor
19 January 2026•Update: 19 January 2026
ISTANBUL
US lawmakers sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday after he sent a letter to Norway's prime minister linking his demand for Greenland to being denied the Nobel Peace Prize.
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee accused Trump of turning the US into a "pariah" through "personal grievance," urging Republicans to stop enabling a "wannabe king" before inflicting irreversible damage on NATO and the US' global partnerships.
"These are the ramblings of a man who has lost touch with reality," Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut said on the US social media company X.
Echoing concerns over Trump’s age and health long aired in US media, Murphy added that Trump, 79, "isn't ok" and has deteriorated markedly over the past year, suggesting his actions might "get us into a war with our allies."
New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim described Trump's message as "unhinged," "embarrassing," and "incredibly dangerous," warning that the president is inflicting permanent harm on Washington's international standing.
Sen. Brian Schatz from Hawaii questioned how anyone could "not find this extremely worrisome," underlining Trump's age and what he called a "warped" sense of reality.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly – who Trump recently implied should be hanged for reminding US soldiers of their obligation to refuse illegal orders – warned that Trump's threats could "destroy" NATO, questioning whether Republicans and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are "too afraid to stand up to Trump" as his actions "throw NATO away."
Vermont Sen. Peter Welch said Trump is threatening war due to his "fragile ego," calling it "stupid and dangerous."
Colorado Congressman Jason Crow accused Trump of abandoning US alliances over "stupid & petty personal grievances," while Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton compared the US president's behavior to an undisciplined child.
Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger from Illinois called on his party to sideline Trump, who is tied with Joe Biden as the oldest US president, saying: "It's time to move Gramps into a home."
In a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store made public on Monday, Trump claimed that Norway's failure to award him the Nobel Peace Prize freed him from focusing exclusively on peace. Store clarified that the prize is awarded by an independent committee, not Norway's government.
Trump is known for personalizing matters of international relations.
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long attracted US interest due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources, as well as alleged concerns over rising Russian and Chinese activity.
