The letter sent by the President of the United States to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre represents an unprecedented document in the history of Western diplomacy: a head of state who explicitly conditions his commitment to peace on not receiving a prize, confusing independent institutions with national governments and threatening NATO allies with punitive tariffs. Meanwhile, a structured network of European leaders and parties systematically aligns with Trumpian narratives, undermining the cohesion of the European Union from within.
1. The Letter to Støre: Anatomy of a Presidential Communication
On January 19, 2026, PBS NewsHour made public an official communication sent by President Donald Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The document's authenticity was confirmed both by AFP through sources close to the matter and by Støre himself to the Norwegian newspaper VG.
1.1 The Full Text
"Dear Jonas: 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. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland."
1.2 Analysis of Problematic Elements
Fundamental Institutional Confusion
Trump states that "your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize." The Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded by the Norwegian government, but by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a completely independent body. As Støre clarified: "I have clearly explained, also to President Trump, what is well known: the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee, not by the Norwegian government."
Conditioning Peace on Personal Recognition
The most disturbing element of the communication is the explicit declaration that, due to not receiving a personal prize, the President "no longer feels an obligation to think purely of Peace." This statement explicitly subordinates the interests of international security to the President's personal recognition.
Denial of Danish Sovereignty over Greenland
Trump disputes Denmark's rights over Greenland, stating that "there are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago." This statement completely ignores the Treaty of Kiel of 1814, subsequent colonial agreements, and Greenland's current status as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with its own parliament (Inatsisartut).
2. The "Eight Wars" Stopped: Fact-Checker Analysis
In his letter to Støre, Trump claims to have "stopped 8 wars PLUS." This claim has been systematically verified by multiple independent fact-checking organizations.
| Source | Assessment |
|---|---|
| PolitiFact | "Mostly False" - Contains elements of truth but ignores critical facts |
| CNN Fact Check | "The figure 'eight' is a clear exaggeration" |
| Associated Press | "The numbers are wrong" - Conflicts resumed after agreements |
| FactCheck.org | Includes conflicts that never happened and diplomatic disputes, not wars |
2.2 Individual "Conflicts" Analyzed
Egypt-Ethiopia: No War
The conflict indicated by Trump "was not actually a war": it is a diplomatic dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). There were no armed conflicts to stop.
Thailand-Cambodia: Conflict Resumed
After an agreement mediated by Trump in October, "heavy fighting broke out in early December" according to AP.
DR Congo-Rwanda: Violence Continued
Despite an agreement signed at the White House, "violence in the region continued, with hundreds of civilians killed after the agreement was signed."
India-Pakistan: Role Disputed
While Pakistan thanked Trump, "India denied Trump's claims, saying there was no conversation between the US and India regarding the ceasefire."
3. The Pardon of January 6 Rioters
On January 21, 2025, on the first day of his second term, Trump signed an executive order granting "a full, complete and unconditional pardon" to approximately 1,600 people convicted or under investigation for the Capitol assault of January 6, 2021.
3.1 The Assault Numbers
| Element | Data |
|---|---|
| People pardoned | ~1,600 (convicted and under investigation) |
| Deaths during the assault | 5 people |
| Police officers injured | 140 officers |
| Longest sentence before pardon | 22 years (Enrique Tarrio, Proud Boys) |
3.2 The Narrative Rewriting
Trump called the assailants "hostages" and the assault "a day of love," while describing attacks against police officers as "very minor incidents." Among those pardoned are Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys (sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy) and Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers.
As historian Julian Zelizer of Princeton observed: "The implications are clear. Trump will do anything to protect those who act in his name. This is the culmination of his effort to rewrite January 6."
Kim Wehle, professor of constitutional law, commented: "The consequence of this pardon could be revenge, payback, violence and new crimes. It conveys the idea that it's not only right, but actually encouraged to commit violent crimes for a political candidate and then be rewarded for it."
4. The European Pro-Trump Network
Trump's return to power has galvanized a structured network of European parties and leaders who share his ideological vision. These movements have coordinated in the "Patriots for Europe" group in the European Parliament (third largest group with 86 seats) and organized the "Make Europe Great Again" summit in Madrid in February 2025.
"Yesterday we were the heretics. Today we are the mainstream. We are the future." — Viktor Orbán, Madrid summit, February 2025
4.1 Viktor Orbán (Hungary) - The Kremlin Bridge
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Fidesz - In government since 2010 |
| Trump Alignment | Only European leader at Trump 2025 inauguration; regular visits to Mar-a-Lago; congratulatory letter from Trump for 2026 campaign |
| Relations with Russia | Trips to Moscow during Ukraine war; Paks II nuclear project with Rosatom; documented GRU channel; veto on EU aid to Kyiv |
| Anti-EU Actions | Block of €6.5 billion for Ukraine; defense of frozen Russian assets; rule of law violations (€19 billion EU funds blocked) |
Orbán celebrated Trump's return as "validation" of his policies and is attempting to build a broad alliance of illiberal forces. The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a think tank linked to Orbán, has developed ties with the American Heritage Foundation, the organization behind Project 2025.
4.2 Marine Le Pen (France) - The Financial Dependency
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Rassemblement National - 142 seats National Assembly |
| Russian funding | €9.4 million loan from Russian banks in 2013; creation of structural dependency relationship |
| Position on Ukraine | Reduction of French aid from €3 to €2 billion in 2025 budget; hypothesis of France-Russia defensive alliance post-war |
| Trump Alignment | Meeting with US Ambassador Kushner Dec. 2025; "We are the only ones who can talk to the new Trump administration" |
Valérie Hayer, president of the Renew Europe group, commented: "Trump wants to divide Europe to dominate it better. He is waging a trade war that destroys jobs in France. He denies Ukrainian sovereignty. And the RN? It supports the American president and serves as a useful idiot to destroy the European Union."
4.3 Alice Weidel and the AfD (Germany) - Musk's Endorsement
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Alternative für Deutschland - Second party in Germany (26% in polls) |
| Intelligence Status | Under surveillance by German secret services for "suspected extremism" |
| Musk Support | Tweet "Only AfD can save Germany"; livestream interview with Weidel; virtual appearance at Halle rally Jan. 2025 |
| Voice of Europe Scandals | Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron investigated for Russian funding; Bystron: immunity revoked, searches |
Musk called the AfD "the last spark of hope" for Germany. At the Halle rally, he said: "I think you are the best hope for Germany," inviting Germans to "get over the guilt of the past" - two days before Holocaust Remembrance Day and a few days after his controversial gestures at Trump's inauguration.
JD Vance met with AfD leadership and condemned German intelligence for classifying the party as an "extremist organization." Trump's National Security Strategy explicitly celebrates these European parties.
4.4 Matteo Salvini and Lega (Italy) - The Impossible Equidistance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister; Lega Secretary |
| Russia Position | "Russia is not a threat to the world"; "Neither with Putin nor with Zelensky"; hope for post-war commercial normalization |
| On Trump | "Go Trump" post after Zelensky-Trump clash; "I thank President Trump for the effort he is making" |
| On EU | "Brussels is playing with fire" on Russian assets; accuses EU of "sabotaging peace"; "caution" on sending weapons |
Salvini stated: "I'm pro-Italian, they accused me of being Putinist, Trumpist, Orbánist. I don't cheer only for Putin or only for Zelensky, I'm for peace." He called Macron and other European leaders "spoilsports" on peace in Ukraine, inviting to "let Putin and Zelensky decide."
His party is a member of the "Patriots for Europe" group together with Orbán and Le Pen. On the Greenland crisis, Lega "cheered" for Trump's tariffs, according to Italian opposition criticism.
4.5 Other Actors in the Pro-Trump Network
| Leader/Party | Country | Key Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Geert Wilders (PVV) | Netherlands | Largest coalition partner; "Trump is like a brother in arms"; calls for "Reconquista" of Europe |
| Santiago Abascal (Vox) | Spain | Organizer of "MEGA" Madrid summit; host Kevin Roberts (Heritage Foundation); minimizes tariffs as "EU's fault" |
| Nigel Farage (Reform UK) | United Kingdom | Reform UK first in polls (28%); former RT collaborator; Nathan Gill (former Wales leader) convicted for Russian bribes |
| Robert Fico (SMER) | Slovakia | Prime Minister; skeptical of Ukraine aid; positions similar to Orbán but avoids confrontation with large EU states |
| Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) | Austria | FPÖ won 2024 elections; negotiating to form government; historical ties with Russia (Egisto Ott case) |
| Chega (André Ventura) | Portugal | 22.8% May 2025 elections; meteoric growth; Patriots for Europe member |
4.6 American Interference in European Elections
The European Council on Foreign Relations observes that "the convergence of the Trump-led MAGA movement and the European far right means that European liberals now face a war on two fronts": internal (EU transformation from within) and external (US leverage in trade relations).
According to Axios: "For the first time in modern history, far-right parties lead the polls in Europe's four largest economies simultaneously." Trump officials "have openly campaigned for the European far right," including Musk's explicit endorsement of the AfD and Vance's meetings with leaders of these parties.
Trump's National Security Strategy accuses the EU of risk of "civilization cancellation" and defines European institutions as a threat to "political freedom," explicitly celebrating European far-right parties as allies.
5. Italian Fence-Sitting: Meloni's Position
In the context of the Greenland crisis, the position of the Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni emerges as an emblematic case of diplomatic balancing that raises questions about European solidarity.
5.1 The European Response vs the Italian Response
On January 18, 2026, eight European countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom) issued a joint declaration of "full solidarity" with Denmark, stating that "Greenland is not for sale" and that "no threat of tariffs can change this fact."
The Italian response was different. From Seoul, Meloni stated that the tariff increase "is a mistake and I don't share it," but spoke of "a problem of understanding and communication" between Washington and Brussels. She added that she "shares the attention that the American presidency gives to Greenland" and described Trump's methods as "assertive" but legitimate to "pose a problem that exists."
5.2 Criticism of the Ambiguity
"The foreign policy of a great country like Italy cannot be reduced to waiting for and interpreting what Donald Trump will say or do. The chickens are coming home to roost, also for Giorgia Meloni. For the first time, Italy appears politically incapable of expressing true European solidarity. If your only ambition is to be the most Trumpian government in Europe, it's inevitable to slip into marginality." — Elly Schlein, PD Secretary
M5S leader Giuseppe Conte observed: "She walks a tightrope, grasps at straws. With Trump wanting Greenland, it's just a 'misunderstanding.'"
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned: "If Trump takes Greenland, it makes Putin the happiest man in the world. A US invasion would legitimize the attempted invasion of Ukraine."
Linkiesta comments: "It's also Italy's democratic resilience that is concerning, with a Trumpian and Orbánian premier, and by reflection therefore Putinian, who while Europe and NATO are dying, is eating ice cream."
6. The Framework of Contemporary Collaborationism
The analysis of the European pro-Trump network reveals the systematic application of the "contemporary collaborationist" framework identified in previous studies.
| Pillar | Manifestation | Actors Involved |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rejection of expertise and factual truth | "8 wars stopped" debunked; institutional confusion; historical revisionism | Trump, AfD ("Hitler communist"), Salvini ("equidistance" Putin-Zelensky) |
| 2. Alignment with despotic models | Pardon of rioters; visits to Putin; Russian funding; intelligence channels | Orbán-Putin, Le Pen (Russian loans), AfD (Voice of Europe), Farage (Nathan Gill) |
| 3. Contempt for European democratic values | Attack on territorial sovereignty; punitive tariffs; EU division; blocking Ukraine aid | Trump (Greenland), Orbán (EU veto), all Patriots for Europe |
As the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace observes: "The growing ideological alignment and the so-called anti-woke platform bring the radical right closer across the Atlantic, legitimizing and normalizing far-right political discourse. Trump's domestic policies can have the diffuse effect of encouraging illiberal leaders, strengthening far-right party networks and inspiring actions abroad."
7. Conclusions
The documented analysis reveals a systemic picture in which American leadership under Trump and a coordinated network of European political forces operate in synergy to weaken democratic institutions, European cohesion and the transatlantic alliance.
7.1 Verified Patterns
Trump's claims are systematically debunked by independent fact-checkers. The institutional confusion, the subordination of peace to personal recognition, and the pardon of January 6 rioters constitute documented behavioral patterns that raise fundamental questions about American leadership.
The European pro-Trump network is structured, coordinated (Patriots for Europe, MEGA summit) and financially interconnected with Russian interests (Le Pen, AfD, Farage). American interference in European elections (Musk, Vance) represents an unprecedented phenomenon.
7.2 The Risk for Europe
As TIME observes: "Europe faces a choice between the vassalage Trump is pushing it toward and a painful emancipation." The ECFR notes that "European liberals face a war on two fronts" - internal and external - in defending democratic institutions.
Italy's ambiguous response, the only major European country not to express clear solidarity with Denmark, represents a worrying signal about Europe's ability to respond unitarily to the challenges posed by this illiberal transatlantic alliance.
Bibliography and Sources
Primary Sources
- Trump's letter to Støre - PBS NewsHour, AFP, VG (January 19, 2026)
- Joint declaration of 8 European countries (January 18, 2026)
- Meloni's statements - Seoul press conference (January 18, 2026)
- US National Security Strategy (December 2025)
Fact-Checking
- PolitiFact, CNN Fact Check, Associated Press, FactCheck.org
Geopolitical Analysis
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: "The European Radical Right in the Age of Trump 2.0"
- European Council on Foreign Relations: "When culture war and trade war clash"
- Chatham House: "Trump and his growing number of European allies"
- Foreign Policy: "Trump Is Rattling Europe's Far Right"
- Index on Censorship: "The Far Right is on the rise in 2026"
News Outlets
- Euronews, TIME, NBC News, Axios, Reuters, Al Jazeera
- Il Fatto Quotidiano, La Stampa, ANSA, Sky TG24, Il Sole 24 Ore, Linkiesta, L'Espresso
- Washington Post, NPR, CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune
- Searchlight Magazine, Byline Times, The Week UK, LBC
Report completed on January 19, 2026