Norwegians on U.S. election results: ‘What have Democrats gotten wrong?’

Mikkel Røed Nesse, a state senator in Adger, Norway, says Norway needs to prioritize its independence in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Nesse is skeptical about Trump’s reelection and is among the 70% of Norwegians who would have voted for Kamala Harris, according to Statista.

“The most concerning part is that Trump brings a more uncertain world, and I believe almost all democratic countries need certainty,” Nesse said. “They need to not rely on the United States.”

Two prominent issues affecting Norway following this year’s U.S. election are higher tariffs that could result in a trade war and security concerns relating to NATO, according to Norwegian political science experts.

“I think that if you are to draw anything positive out of this really miserable situation [of Trump’s election], it is that we might get the realization we need to take more responsibility for our own security, our own economic security, our own health security and our own independence,” Nesse said.

Despite skepticism, Einar Berntzen, a University of Bergen political science professor, said it’s in Norway’s best interest to maintain positive relationships with the U.S., regardless of who leads it.

“Since FDR’s famous ‘Look to Norway’ speech [on Sept. 16, 1942], the U.S. has been and remains Norway’s closest and most important ally,” Berntzen said.

Additionally, Norwegian writer, researcher and teacher Aaron John Spitzer said Norway looks westward to the U.S. for trade and cultural influence.

“Norway is a big NATO country, so on a practical level, U.S. international relations actually have the ability to impact Norway,” Spitzer said. “But I think more than anything, it’s a cultural orientation.”

A protectionist mindset

Trump’s threat to unilaterally impose a blanket tariff on U.S. trade partners might unleash a “tit-for-tat” trade war, Berntzen said.

“[The trade war] will wreak havoc on international trade and supply chains that would also affect the small and open economy of Norway,” Berntzen said.

Stein Kuhnle, a political scientist at the University of Bergen, said his main concern following the election is the Trump-imposed new isolationism and how it will hinder trade with Norway, Europe and transatlantic regions.

“I think there is more concern about the future of American democracy and fear about the U.S. moving in a more authoritarian direction,” Kuhnle said.

‘An aggressive and dangerous neighbor’

Norwegians like Berntzen are concerned that Trump will create a peace treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin behind Ukraine’s back.

“American elections typically influence Norwegian opinion due to their importance for Norway as a small country with a geopolitically vulnerable position sharing a border with an aggressive and dangerous neighbor: Russia,” Berntzen said.

This fear makes the U.S. Norway’s closest and most important ally in regard to military and security, Berntzen said.

“Norwegians are adamant that Putin must not be allowed to win his war of aggression against Ukraine,” Berntzen said. “Such a ‘peace’ would only embolden Putin’s expansionism and send an ominous message to other countries sharing a border with Russia.”

Predictable, yet disheartening

Following the U.S. election, most Norwegians weren’t surprised but still disappointed with the results.

Nesse had a “bad feeling” about the election as he viewed Trump as leading in some of the key issues this election: the economy, immigration and security. However, he still thinks a Trump presidency is “absolutely ludacris.”

“When I woke up and saw that Trump has most likely won the election, I wasn’t shocked, but I was a bit like, ‘What the f–k? Did they actually reelect him?’” Nesse said.

Spitzer said while he was “mind blown” about Trump’s election in 2016, he didn’t find it as startling this year after seeing declining support for Harris compared to Joe Biden in 2020.

“I would say that very much unlike previous years, the general reaction this year to some degree among thinking people in Norway has been, ‘Holy s–t, what have Democrats gotten wrong?’” Spitzer said.