Norway hits back: Trump’s insult leads to toilet tourism

Norway has found an unusual way to respond after Donald Trump insulted the country, turning the US president’s foul-mouthed remarks into an unexpected tourism opportunity.

The country’s national tourism organisation, Visit Norway, has drawn attention to its spectacular public toilets after Trump described Norway as a “s**t house country” during a Republican campaign rally in Michigan on Sunday, October 25.

Rather than responding with an angry political statement, the tourism body opted for humour, pointing out that Norway is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and unusual public toilets.

The response has attracted international attention, with Visit Norway reporting more than 750,000 views of its post and thousands of people commenting. Some Americans even apologised for their president’s language, according to Norway’s News in English.

Trump on Norway:

Norway has become a shithouse country.

Norway sucks. https://t.co/JSm6V9kycI

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 25, 2026

Norway turns Trump’s insult into tourism

Norway’s public toilets are not quite what visitors might expect. Several have become architectural attractions in their own right, situated along the country’s National Tourist Routes, where dramatic coastal scenery, mountains and fjords provide the backdrop.

One example is Ureddplassen, a stopping point on the Helgelandskysten coastal route, known for its sweeping sea views and distinctive design.

The unexpected publicity has given these facilities an international audience, demonstrating how a carefully judged social media response can turn an insult into an opportunity to promote a country.

Why Trump is angry with Norway

Trump’s latest outburst is linked to his continuing frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

The US president has repeatedly argued that he deserves the award for his efforts to resolve international conflicts. This year’s prize went to South African human rights advocate Navi Pillay.

However, Norway’s government does not decide who receives the Nobel Peace Prize. The winner is selected by the independent Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member body appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has previously stressed that the decision belongs to the committee, not the government.

Trump has previously linked his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize to his changing attitude towards international peace, in a dispute that also involved Greenland. Read more in EWN’s report on Trump’s earlier Nobel Peace Prize dispute with Norway.

Norway makes shit houses great again! 🤣

https://t.co/8v4gI8NtfD?

— LilleBie (@VerbyeGuro) October 29, 2026

Prime minister defends respectful debate

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre took a different approach to the controversy when school pupils in Oslo asked why he had not responded more forcefully to Trump’s remarks.

Støre said the US president used much stronger language than he did, adding that he did not even use such words in private.

He also drew a distinction between their approaches to political disagreement, saying Trump spoke about opponents as enemies, whereas he did not.

The prime minister’s comments were applauded by pupils, who welcomed his discussion of democracy, freedom of expression and the importance of respecting people with opposing views.

While Trump’s remarks have caused anger in Norway, the country’s response has ranged from political criticism to humour. For Visit Norway, at least, an insult has provided an unexpected opportunity to put some of its most unusual tourist attractions in the international spotlight.