Sen. Bernie Sanders sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump suggested that his push to take control of Greenland was tied, in part, to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Sanders framed the remarks as a troubling reflection of how the president is approaching U.S. foreign policy.
“My Republican colleagues must take notice,” Sanders said in a public statement. “The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.”
Sanders’ comments came amid escalating tensions between the United States and European allies over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. In recent days, Trump has repeatedly argued that U.S. control of Greenland is essential for global security, while also expressing frustration that he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize despite claiming credit for stopping multiple wars.
My Republican colleagues must take notice:
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 19, 2026
The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.
This is pathetic.
It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation. https://t.co/8aAf0TWQPd
Sanders went further, condemning both the tone and implications of Trump’s statements.
“This is pathetic,” Sanders said. “It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation.”
The Vermont independent’s remarks underscore growing concern among Democrats — and some U.S. allies — that Trump’s approach to Greenland is driven less by established diplomatic or legal frameworks and more by personal grievances and unilateral assertions of power. Trump has argued that Denmark lacks legitimate historical ownership of Greenland and that NATO allies have failed to adequately address Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic.
Sanders’ statement also appeared aimed at Republicans in Congress, urging them to respond to what he portrayed as a normalization of personal motives shaping U.S. foreign policy decisions. His comments add to a broader debate in Washington over the implications of Trump’s Greenland rhetoric for NATO unity, international law, and the credibility of U.S. leadership abroad.
As Trump continues to press the issue publicly and through diplomatic channels, criticism from lawmakers like Sanders highlights the domestic political divide over how far the United States should go in asserting control over strategically significant territories — and what should drive those decisions.
