Donald Trump is reported to have said that Norwegians would be more welcome to move to the US than immigrants from 'shithole countries' such as Haiti or African nations
ADVERTISEMENTDonald Trump may prefer immigrants from Norway rather than from what he reportedly called 'shithole' countries such as Haiti or those in Africa.
But people in the Nordic nation - last year named the happiest place on earth - have no desire to move to the US, according to a report on Norwegian national TV.
"Absolutely not," one man in Oslo told reporter Ronnie Baraldsnes from TV 2.
"I have no business there," a woman added.
Baraldsnes found a US citizen living in Norway and asked why she made the move, in the opposite direction.
"My husband got a job here," she said.
Norway, one of the richest countries in the world by GDP per capita, is known for a cradle-to-grave welfare state funded in part by large reserves of oil and natural gas.
Trump's reference to Norway may have been prompted by Prime Minister Erna Solberg who visited the White House on Wednesday when the president praised Norway for running a trade deficit with the United States and for buying US military equipment.
One woman he interviewed said she might consider trying the American dream: "If they get a new president."
"Not while he's there!" she said, referring to Trump.
"I don't care for that kind of man. No… there are men, and then there are men you know!"
"And Trump," said Baraldsnes.
"And Trump!" the woman laughed before walking away.
Christian Christensen, an American professor of journalism at Stockholm University in neighbouring Sweden, tweeted:
"Of course people from #Norway would love to move to a country where people are far more likely to be shot, live in poverty, get no healthcare because they're poor, get no paid parental leave or subsidized daycare and see fewer women in political power. #Shithole"
with Reuters