A viral claim that Trump is slapping heavy tariffs on Norwegian salmon because of the amount of Winter Olympic gold medals the country is winning is fabricated.
A post circulating on X claims that US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 250% tariff on Norwegian salmon after accusing Norway of cheating at the Winter Olympics.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The post, which has amassed more than 1 million views on X, is based on an alleged screenshot taken from Trump's Truth Social account.
It accuses the Norwegian ski team of using a "classified" ski wax to gain a competitive advantage during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The post claims that these unfair advantages are funded via NATO money, given to Norway by the US. "Make skiing fair again," the post reads.
However, the post is not authentic.
There is no record of Trump publishing this statement on his Truth Social account or any of his other social media accounts. There is also no credible media outlet reporting that Trump is targeting Norwegian salmon with tariff threats.
Credible elements
Whilst the post itself is fake, it draws on real elements of elite skiing to appear credible.
Factors such as ski base structure and waxing can influence performance, especially in races decided by seconds. National teams invest heavily in research, testing and specialist technicians to gain an advantage.
A recent ban on fluorinated ski waxes due to environmental and health concerns has also resulted in teams rushing to develop alternatives. These are often kept confidential to preserve a competitive edge.
Athletes found to be using banned substances, such as fluorinated waxes, can be disqualified regardless of nationality.
There is no evidence that any Norwegian athlete has been disqualified yet for using banned waxes this Olympic season.
Two South Korean cross-country skiers have, however, been disqualified from the women's classic sprint at the 2026 Games, after their equipment tested positive for fluor.
NATO funding claim is fake
There is also no evidence that Norway diverts NATO defence funding into its skiing programme.
In June, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre committed the country to spending at least 5% of its GDP on defence. This money is allocated to military personnel, weapons and equipment, along with defence and security-related civilian investment, such as crisis response and infrastructure that supports military operations.
Norway's Olympic programme is funded separately through civilian sports policy, not defence or NATO budgets.
A share of funding comes from gaming proceeds generated by state-owned lottery operator Norsk Tipping, with 64% of eligible proceeds allocated to sporting purposes, including a portion dedicated to the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports.