Norway turns to toilet humor after Trump bashes Scandinavian country
Theme: Satire, National Identity, Tourism and International Relations
Level: Upper Secondary (English / Social Studies)
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze a real news article.
- Explore how countries respond to criticism.
- Understand satire and humor in political communication.
- Investigate connections between Norway and other European countries.
- Use critical thinking to interpret images and media messages.
Norway has turned to a bit of toilet humor in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments insulting the Scandinavian country and the Nobel Peace Prize.
After Trump called Norway a “shithouse,” the country’s tourism agency published a guide to “some of the world’s most beautiful and spectacular toilets ” sprinkled across the stunning Norwegian landscape.
Trump’s comments on Sunday at a political rally in Port Huron, Michigan, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections were not the first time the U.S. leader ranted about Norway or the Norwegian Nobel Committee. “Norway has become a shithouse country, actually,” he told the crowd. The Independent
Visit Norway makes toilets ‘great again’ after Trump’s ‘sh*t house country’ jab. Cnn
Key points:
- U.S. President Donald Trump called Norway a “shithouse country” during a political rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, October 26, 2026.
- The comments followed the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to international jurist Navi Pillay earlier in October 2026.
- Visit Norway launched a tourism campaign titled “Norway makes shithouses great again” in response to the remarks.
- The Stegastein viewpoint features a free public toilet overlooking the Aurlandsfjord that was rated No. 1 on DesignCurial’s list of the world’s 10 best public toilets in 2015.
- The “Gulldassen,” or Golden Toilet, is a triangular restroom built in 2014 located on Senja Island.
Lesson plan
- In groups of 3, try to look up as many examples as you can find of pictures of outdoor toilets in Norway. Be sure to look at the article from CNN as well.
- Organize them according to originality.
- Make a presentation of your findings explaining your reasons for your choices.
- Norway responded to criticism with humor instead of anger. Why do you think this strategy was chosen? As a group, create a slogan that promotes the idea that humor can be a powerful response to criticism.
Another way Norway is used as an example
Look at the picture posted on Truth Social of the 5 doors. What is the story here? Picture is below.
Read the text below and answer the questions
Trump highlights Norway in election post
U.S. President Donald Trump shared a political cartoon on Truth Social Saturday evening, in which he warns that the U.S. is next after Europe. The cartoon shows a hallway with five doors labeled “Norway, “
“England,” “Sweden,” “France,” and an American flag on the last door. The doors to Norway and England appear battered and broken, with black smoke seeping from the cracks. Behind the doors to Sweden and France, fires are still burning. In front of the U.S. door stands a caricatured man in traditional Muslim clothing holding a burning torch. In front of the American door, there is a doormat labeled “Islam.”
Above the image is the warning: “Wake up America!” There have indeed been riots in France for several weeks, but in Norway there have been no nationwide disturbances.
Nobel Peace Prize
“How should we interpret the fact that the U.S. president is suddenly bringing Norway into this?” “Trump’s ignorance is monumental. He has so little knowledge and understanding of international affairs, and is not up to date on what’s happening. So why is he bringing Norway into this? It’s because he hasn’t received the Nobel Peace Prize,” he says. Civita-advisor Eirik Løkke to the “Nettavisen”.
As recently as last weekend, Trump said at a campaign rally that “Norway sucks,” and he has repeatedly expressed great dissatisfaction with not having received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Peace Prize is awarded in Norway by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is independent. Source: Msn
Answer these questions:
- What message was Donald Trump trying to convey by sharing the political cartoon featuring Norway and other European countries?
- How is Norway depicted in the cartoon Trump shared, and what is the significance of the imagery used?
- What does the warning “Wake up America!” above the cartoon suggest about Trump’s view of the situation in the U.S. compared to Europe?
- How has Trump previously expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the Nobel Peace Prize and Norway’s involvement in awarding it?
- According to the quoted source, what reasons are given for Trump’s decision to bring Norway into the discussion, and how is his understanding of international affairs characterized?
