A Norwegian singer's eye-catching and sharply-worded rejection of former President Donald Trump's call for 'nice' immigrants from his country has ignited a fierce transatlantic debate about American values and quality of life.
The Provocative Speech and a Pointed Response
At a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on 9 December 2025, Donald Trump delivered a profanity-laden speech criticising US immigration from what he termed 'third world' countries. He questioned why America could not attract more people from nations like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, explicitly asking for 'some nice people'.
This rhetoric prompted a swift and viral response from Chris Lund, a 43-year-old Norwegian singer. Taking to Threads, Lund posted a mock rejection of Trump's offer, which rapidly amassed over 83,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.
Comparing Systems: Spa Versus a 'Burning Hot Dog Stand'
In his post, Lund meticulously contrasted the social safety nets of Norway and the United States. He highlighted that Norway guarantees five weeks of paid annual leave, compared to what he called America's typical two. He pointed to Norway's year of paid parental leave versus the US's 'good luck' approach.
Most strikingly, he stated: 'Your healthcare plan is GoFundMe, while ours is free. And your safety plan is just 'thoughts and prayers.'' Lund concluded that moving to the US felt like 'leaving a spa to go work in a burning hot dog stand.'
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lund explained his post stemmed from 'a moment of pure culture shock.' He argued it was absurd to invite people from one of the world's most secure nations to a country he sees as struggling with basic safety and workers' rights.
Mixed Reactions and Official Rebuttals
The reaction to Lund's critique was deeply polarised. Many supporters praised him for being 'spot on,' while critics labelled him a 'moron' obsessed with America and compared Norway's system to communist states.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded to the controversy, telling Newsweek: 'President Trump is right. America is the greatest country in the world.' She added that foreigners who complain about America and refuse to assimilate 'should not be here.'
Lund countered that Jackson missed the irony of her statement, noting the President was publicly inviting criticism by extending the invitation. He stressed his criticism was of the American system, not its people, whom he described as talented and hardworking.
He told the Mail: 'This isn't a personal attack on Americans, it's just an observation of a system that seems to have lost its way.' Lund expressed hope that his American friends could one day enjoy similar benefits to those in Norway.
