Whoopi Goldberg warns ‘no country on this planet is safe’ if Trump successfully acquires Greenland
“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg argued Wednesday that if President Donald Trump can acquire Greenland, no country is safe from similar acquisitions by powerful leaders.
During a discussion on Trump’s push to take control of the island territory owned by Denmark, co-host Sara Haines said, “I do think he might get Greenland.”
“Greenland is not for sale,” fellow co-host Sunny Hosten declared.
Goldberg then warned, “Listen, if they allow him to do this, no country on this planet is safe.”
TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, ASSERTS CANADA SHOULD BE ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has said that acquiring Greenland is a matter of national security to keep Russia and China in check as polar ice melts and shipping lanes expand, but NATO allies have rejected the idea.
Trump declared in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday that the U.S. is the only nation in a position to control and secure Greenland.
“We never asked for anything,” Trump said of the U.S. working with NATO. “And we never got anything. We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that. OK, now everyone says, ‘Oh good.’ That’s probably the biggest statement I made because people thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
NEWSOM WARNS ‘PATHETIC’ FOREIGN LEADERS TO GROW A BACKBONE IN BIZARRE TAKEDOWN LIKENING TRUMP TO A T.REX
“Across the board, our NATO alliance, I really think is at risk at this point,” Hostin said in reaction to Trump. “Our allies are now speaking up vociferously. I mean, you saw them saying we — this is a new world order. This — and that should be something that should be — we should be very afraid of, because right now, with our alliance, China is on this side and Russia is on this side.
“Where will this sort of middle tier of countries go? They’re going to unite, and I think they may possibly go to China, which means that China becomes the new sort of ruler of the world order, and that is a scary. I think that is a very scary thing for us.”
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Haines praised NATO’s strength as an alliance of western powers, saying, “The second it were to dissolve or separate, we would become immediately vulnerable to Russia and China.”
Haines offered a theory that Trump’s apparent de-escalation — saying he will not use force to acquire Greenland — may be part of a calculated negotiation tactic, noting, “I absolutely think Donald Trump backed off on the military stuff because I think he might get Greenland.
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“I think he’s going to find a way, because if you start with an absurd demand, and then you come back and bring a more reasonable one.”
Top NATO official reveals details of stunning meeting with Trump that produced Greenland deal ‘framework’
After President Donald Trump announced a new Greenland “framework” had been agreed upon with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the NATO chief told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” the U.S. forcibly taking control of Greenland from Denmark was not discussed during meetings between him and Trump in Switzerland during the World Economic Forum.
“That issue did not come up anymore in my conversations with Mr. President. He’s very much focused on what we need to do to make sure that that huge Arctic region, where change is taking place at the moment, where the Chinese and Russians are more and more active, how we can protect that,” Rutte said when pressed on the details of the reported “framework” that has been agreed upon.
Trump said the agreement resulted in his decision not to impose tariffs scheduled to go into effect Feb. 1.
“That was really the focus of our discussions,” Rutte insisted.
TRUMP’S ‘SMALL ASK’ FOR GREENLAND WOULD BE THE REAL ESTATE DEAL OF A LIFETIME
Trump announced the new “framework” for Greenland in a post on his social media site Truth Social Wednesday afternoon while at the World Economic Forum this week.
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” the president wrote. “Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland. Further information will be made available as discussions progress.”
Trump noted that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead “the negotiations” and report directly to him.
TRUMP TELLS DAVOS US ALONE CAN SECURE GREENLAND, INSISTS HE WON’T ‘USE FORCE’
“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that,” Trump said earlier in the morning at the World Economic Forum. “Now everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, good.’ That’s probably the biggest statement I made because people thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
During the exclusive interview with Fox News, Rutte called Trump “totally right” about needing to shore up security in the Arctic region, noting that the chance of Russia or China becoming a threat in that region is increasing every day. The NATO Secretary General also praised Trump’s leadership in getting other NATO countries to pay more money for the alliance’s defenses.
“I would argue tonight with you on this program he was the one who brought a whole of Europe and Canada up to this famous 5%,” Rutte insisted, “which is crucial for us to equalize our spending, but also protect ourselves. And this is the framework which you see in his post that we will work on.”
Rutte also noted that increased volatility between NATO-aligned countries, Russia and China underscored the need to shore up security in the Arctic region.
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The NATO chief was asked whether he thought other countries were dealing with the Russians and the Chinese differently than they have in the past.
“It’s not up to me to comment on what individual allies are doing in terms of their relationship with China,” Rutte responded. “I think collectively, as NATO, we have a position. The position is that we should not be naive. I can tell you’ll regret these huge investments the Chinese are making in the military. They are not there to organize parades in Beijing, and the military in Russia are not there to organize parades in Moscow. They are there to be used.”
Trump slams UK island handoff deal that could put key US military base at risk
President Donald Trump dramatically reversed course Tuesday on a U.K. plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while warning it could jeopardize U.S. access to the Diego Garcia military base.
Trump’s reversal highlights what a defense expert called a “new Trump Doctrine” before linking the president’s opposition to the Chagos deal with his Greenland push and citing fears Mauritius could later back out.
Writing on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump called the U.K.’s Chagos decision “an act of great stupidity.”
“Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” Trump wrote. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”
TRUMP ISSUES STERN WARNING TO NATO AHEAD OF VANCE’S HIGH-STAKES GREENLAND MEETING
“Trump has done a 180, partly because of the U.K.’s support for Denmark’s sovereign claims over Greenland and partly because of a new strategy outlined by the White House,” John Hemmings, director of the National Security Center at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital.
“These moves are linked and part of a ‘new Trump Doctrine’” outlined in November’s National Security Strategy,” he explained.
“Diego Garcia is a potential threat to Beijing’s strategy to control vital shipping lanes between the oil-rich Middle East and China’s industrial heartland,” he added, describing how “nearly 23.7 million barrels of oil transit the Indian Ocean every day, with the base being vital in any U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan.”
TRUMP TELLS DAVOS US ALONE CAN SECURE GREENLAND, INSISTS HE WON’T ‘USE FORCE’
In a separate post, Trump explicitly linked the Chagos dispute to his Greenland push.
“The U.K. giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of national security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired,” Trump wrote.
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius during Britain’s decolonization process, a move the International Court of Justice ruled unlawful in 2019.
The U.K. later agreed to transfer sovereignty while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years at a cost of at least $160 million annually.
Diego Garcia is a hub for long-range bombers, logistics and power projection across the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific and Africa. Around 2,500 personnel, mostly American, are stationed there.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON GREENLAND PUSH AS POLLS SHOW LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT
“If Mauritius were to offer the islands to China after taking de jure control, it would put immense pressure on the U.S. in the eyes of international public opinion,” Hemmings explained.
“After all, once Mauritius has de jure sovereignty, it can renegotiate the lease terms or even renege on the treaty at any time it wants.
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“It might also provide access to the exclusive economic zone, with all of its rich fishing grounds, to Chinese fishing fleets, adding another layer of risk to U.S. Air Force operations around the island,” Hemmings said.
“At this moment, the U.S. base at Diego Garcia is thought to be secure, with Mauritius promising the U.K. (and by proxy, the U.S.) a 99-year lease, which will not, it is supposed, interfere with the operations of the air base at all. But the devil is in the details.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump says framework of ‘future deal’ on Greenland reached after NATO talks as tariffs put on hold
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will not impose tariffs that were set to take effect Feb. 1, citing a “framework of a future deal” with NATO involving Greenland and the Arctic region.
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said the deal, if finalized, “will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” adding that the agreement led him to halt the planned tariffs.
“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he said.
TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, ASSERTS CANADA SHOULD BE ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE
Trump added that talks are continuing, saying, “Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland,” and said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead negotiations and “report directly to me.”
In a spray later in the afternoon at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the president said the proposed deal framework “gets us everything we need to get.”
“The deal is going to be put out pretty soon, we’ll see. It’s right now a little bit in progress, but pretty far along,” Trump said to reporters. “It gets us everything we need it to get.”
NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP AT DAVOS, SAYS HE FORCED EUROPE TO ‘STEP UP’ ON DEFENSE
After being asked by another reporter about what NATO Secretary Rutte had to say during their meeting, Trump simply referred to him as “a great leader” and “fantastic.”
“The Secretary General was representing the other side, which is really us too, because, you know, we’re a very important member of NATO,” he said. “I’ve done a lot for NATO. And it’s really nice. I mean, it’s a deal that everybody’s very happy with.”
NATO confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement from Spokesperson Allison Hart that negotiations are aimed “at ensuring Russia and China never gain a foothold” in Greenland.
“The Secretary General had a very productive meeting with President Trump during which they discussed the critical significance of security in the Arctic region to all Allies, including the United States,” Hart said in a statement.
“Discussions among NATO Allies on the framework the President referenced will focus on ensuring Arctic security through the collective efforts of Allies, especially the seven Arctic Allies. Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland,” Hart added.
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“If this deal goes through, and President Trump is very hopeful it will, the United States will be achieving all of its strategic goals with respect to Greenland, at very little cost, forever,” White House Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said to Fox News Digital. “President Trump is proving once again he’s the Dealmaker in Chief. As details are finalized by all parties involved, they will be released accordingly.”
Trump’s ‘small ask’ for Greenland would be the real estate deal of a lifetime
President Donald J. Trump wants Greenland. Full title, ownership papers, and no, he’s not interested in a lease right now. “It’s the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice,” Trump said in his speech to the ritzy World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, Jan. 21. He appears one step closer to getting his wish.
“I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again to discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States,” he told the leaders assembled at Davos. “It’s a small ask,” he quipped.
Five hours later, Trump announced “the framework of a future deal” on Truth Social. No need to take a chainsaw to NATO. The tariff weapon worked again – and fast. Brokered by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said he already had a solution in the works, the framework was good enough for Trump to cancel the Feb. 1 tariffs he threatened to impose on NATO allies including Denmark and Britain.
Don’t be shocked by Trump’s tactics. There’s smart thinking behind Trump’s bid for Greenland. The post-1945 world order shunned boundary changes. Trump sees it differently. “This enormous, unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. The U.S. hasn’t done a major land deal since Spanish-American War of 1898, and the last purchase was the Marshall Islands in 1947.
TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOT USE MILITARY FORCE TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND
“I won’t use force,” Trump assured the audience. Of course not. Trump won’t stoop to the illegal seizure tactics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He’s not going to steal Greenland. The last thing he wants is paratroopers in Arctic gear dropping into Greenland.
Outright acquisition of Greenland for the USA would be the #1 real estate deal of Trump’s career. However, Trump’s primary motive, wisely, is national security. The territory of Greenland is a genuine, urgent concern. “Those missiles would be flying right over the center of that piece of ice,” he said, adding that U.S. ownership is vital to “keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay.”
On strategic grounds, Trump is right. Russia’s formidable new Yasen-class nuclear submarines, based on the Kola peninsula, can launch Kalibr and Oniks missiles, and the new hypersonic Zirkon missile. Russian bombers and anti-submarine planes are active – just ask the Norwegians, who intercepted Russian planes yet again on Jan. 6. Chinese ships and submarines are prowling around, too.
You can just imagine the scary briefing charts Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and others are showing Trump as they lay out the architecture for Golden Dome.
The buyer is “highly motivated,” as the real estate agents say.
TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, ASSERTS CANADA SHOULD BE ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE
So here comes the art of the deal. At Davos, Trump unleashed every real estate tactic from threats to pleas to scoffing at the value of this “big, beautiful piece of ice.”
As you’d expect when preparing for negotiations, Trump proceeded to run down the commercial value of Greenland’s critical mineral resources. He called Greenland “a piece of ice, cold and poorly located.” Trump also criticized the current owner, Denmark, for failing to invest and maintain the place. According to Trump, Denmark pledged an additional $200 million for Greenland’s defenses back in 2019 but didn’t deliver.
All those are classic real estate tactics.
NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP AT DAVOS, SAYS HE FORCED EUROPE TO ‘STEP UP’ ON DEFENSE
Then there was the emotional appeal. After decades of security presence in Europe, “we’ve never gotten anything” from NATO, Trump said. “All we’re asking for is to get Greenland, including right, title and ownership,” Trump whined. Switching gears, he pointed out that a U.S. takeover would be a good deal for NATO. U.S. ownership of Greenland “would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance,” Trump offered.
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No doubt swinging the acquisition of Greenland for the USA would be the No. 1 real estate deal of Trump’s career. However, Trump’s primary motive, wisely, is national security. The territory of Greenland is a genuine, urgent concern.
To be sure, he loves the history. Trump described how the U.S. saved Greenland from Nazi Germany (which is true). Then the U.S. Army Air Forces ran ferry routes to England for B-17 bombers, P-38 Lightning fighters, C-47 cargo transports and many other warplanes via airfields on Greenland. Trump is sorry Democrat President Harry S. Truman gave it back after World War II.
Yet this is no imperialist or mercantilist grab. Trump does not want to make money off Greenland; on the contrary, he wants to spend it. On Golden Dome. And all the P-8 anti-submarine warfare planes and other assets to defend Greenland.
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Trump likes Rutte and called him “great” at Davos. Rutte, who was prime minister of the Netherlands, now has to find a way to give Trump a stake in Greenland. It may take a treaty, a joint venture, a defense compact, or a flag-planting real estate deal, but there’s no going back. Trump at Davos made clear that his continued enthusiasm for Ukraine and NATO depends on securing legal access to Greenland in order to improve U.S. defenses.
Let the negotiations begin.
Trump challenges Carney at Davos, asserts Canada should be ‘grateful’ for Golden Dome missile defense
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States should control Greenland to build a large-scale “Golden Dome” missile defense system he claimed would also protect Canada, arguing that the country depends on U.S. security.
“We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” Trump told attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address on Tuesday.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON GREENLAND PUSH AS POLLS SHOW LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT
It remains unclear whether Canada will take part in the construction of the Golden Dome, an ambitious missile defense system unveiled by the White House in May, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the Trump administration has invited Ottawa to participate.
“Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” Bessent said during an interview with CNBC in Davos.
The Trump administration has estimated the system will cost roughly $175 billion and will use space-based sensors, interceptors and other advanced missile defense technologies.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in a May report that the space-based interceptors could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over 20 years.
HEGSETH ORDERS SWEEPING ARMY OVERHAUL AND CONSOLIDATION AIMED AT COUNTERING CHINA AND GOLDEN DOME CAPABILITIES
Carney, in his speech at the World Economic Forum, did not mention Trump by name in his address, but warned that the rules-based international order is breaking down as “great powers” increasingly use economic and security leverage to coerce allies.
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He argued that “middle powers” like Canada must heed the “wake-up call” that compliance does not guarantee safety, and instead, build strength through diversification, collective action and respect for sovereignty.
Carney also reaffirmed Canada’s support for Greenland and Denmark’s right to determine Greenland’s future, signaling opposition to territorial or economic pressure tied to security demands.
NATO chief praises Trump at Davos, says he forced Europe to ‘step up’ on defense
Europe should be happy President Donald Trump was elected — despite his threats to take Greenland — because without him, it would never have stepped up for its own defense, according to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“I’m not popular with you now because I’m defending Donald Trump, but I really believe you can be happy that he is there because he has forced us in Europe to step up, to face the consequences that we have to take care of more of our own defense,” Rutte said Wednesday in remarks at Davos, Switzerland.
“No way, without Donald Trump, this would never have happened. They’re all on 2% now,” he went on during a panel at the World Economic Forum.
US TRADE REP SHRUGS OFF WORLD LEADERS’ SWIPES AT TRUMP AMID DAVOS BACKLASH
In 2014, NATO allies agreed to spend 2% of GDP on defense, but many fell short until recent years. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s threats not to defend NATO countries, most allies are meeting or exceeding the benchmark.
They’ve now agreed to spend 5% GDP on defense and national security infrastructure.
“I’m absolutely convinced without Donald Trump you would not have taken those decisions, and they are crucial, particularly for the European and the Canadian side of NATO to really grow up in the post-Cold War world.”
U.S. lawmakers previously criticized Rutte for his own country’s underspending on defense. Rutte was prime minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.
Rutte argued the U.S. is still committed to Europe’s defense, and the nuclear umbrella is the ultimate defense guarantee.
“The Americans still have over 80,000 soldiers in Europe … including in Poland and Germany, and so they are still heavily invested in European defense. And yes, they have to pivot more towards Asia. So it is only logical for them to expect us, Europe, to step up over time,” he said.
He also added Greenland is not the “main issue” and Europe should not let it distract from Ukraine’s defense.
“The risk here is that we focus, of course, on Greenland, because we have to make sure that issue gets solved in an amicable way,” he said. “But the main issue is not Greenland. Now, the main issue is Ukraine. I’m also a little bit worried that we might drop the ball focusing so much on these other issues.”
“This focus on Ukraine should be our top priority,” he said. “Ukraine has to come first because it is crucial to our European and American security.”
Rutte repeatedly has praised Trump, in June calling him “daddy” of the NATO alliance.
“Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop,” he said in reference to fighting between Israel and Iran.
TOP EU OFFICIAL WARNS TRUMP’S TARIFF THREAT OVER GREENLAND PUSHBACK IS ‘A MISTAKE’
Other European leaders have expressed more concern about Trump’s Greenland ambitions. On Wednesday Trump, for the first time, ruled out taking Greenland by force.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said a U.S. takeover of Greenland would mean the “end of NATO,” the nearly 80-year-old defense alliance.
Trump spoke at the Davos, Switzerland, conference Wednesday after threatening Europe with tariffs over the Greenland dispute.
This week the president told Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a text message he “no longer thinks purely of peace” in his desire to own Greenland.
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Trump wrote: “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
“I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States,” Trump wrote. “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
Trump tells Davos US alone can secure Greenland, insists he won’t ‘use force’
President Donald Trump declared from Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday that the U.S. is the only nation that is in the position to control and secure Greenland.
“All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” Trump said Wednesday from his speech at the World Economic Forum. “Where we’ve already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it back to Denmark not long ago after we defeated the Germans, the Japanese, the Italians and others in World War II, we gave it back to them.”
Trump added that he does not want to use force as he pressures NATO allies on Greenland.
“We never asked for anything,” Trump said of the U.S. working with NATO. “And we never got anything. We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that. Okay, now everyone say, ‘oh good.’ That’s probably the biggest statement I made because people thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
DAVOS BRACES FOR TRUMP AMID TENSIONS OVER NATO, GREENLAND AND GLOBAL DEFENSE
Greenland — the world’s largest island — sits in the Arctic and governs its own domestic affairs while remaining within the Kingdom of Denmark.
The president said he has “tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark,” but that the U.S. must control the island from a national security standpoint.
“And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States, with a great power much greater than people even understand,” he said.
The White House has reiterated that Trump views Greenland as a national security priority, and officials have not ruled out the use of the U.S. military as the administration weighs options for acquiring the territory.
Trump was asked Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, how far he would go to Greenland, responding with a terse “you’ll find out” response.
The president described Greenland as a vast, almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory that’s sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the United States, Russia and China. He pushed back that the U.S. is not seeking to acquire Greenland for its rare earths, but due to its location from a national security standpoint.
“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere,” he said. “That’s our territory. It is, therefore, a core national security interest of the United States of America.”
Trump said securing Greenland would only strengthen NATO.
“This would not be a threat to NATO,” he said. “This would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance. The NATO alliance. The United States is treated very unfairly by NATO. I want to tell you that. And when you think about it, nobody can dispute it. We give so much, and we get so little in return. And I’ve been a critic of NATO for many years, and yet I’ve done more to help NATO than any other president by far, than any other person. You wouldn’t have NATO if I didn’t get involved.”
NEWSOM WARNS ‘PATHETIC’ FOREIGN LEADERS TO GROW A BACKBONE IN BIZARRE TAKEDOWN LIKENING TRUMP TO A T.REX
The president argued that U.S. control of Greenland would strengthen security for both the United States and Europe, framing the territory as a strategic necessity rather than a real-estate acquisition. “The European Union needs us to have it, and they know that,” he said, before pivoting to other topics.
Greenland has long carried outsized military importance in the Arctic. During the Cold War, the island sat along the shortest air and missile routes between North America and the Soviet Union. The U.S. expanded operations at the air base now known as Pituffik Space Base, using the site for early-warning radar and surveillance designed to detect incoming bombers and missiles.
“Now our country and the world face much greater risks than it did ever before. Because of missiles, because of nuclear, because of weapons, of warfare that I can’t even talk about,” Trump continued of Greenland.
In more recent years, renewed U.S. interest has been tied to intensifying great-power competition in the Arctic. Officials and analysts have pointed to China’s effort to widen its regional footprint.
Trump underscored that the U.S. is “stronger” than ever and is in the position to finalize a Greenland deal following “two centuries” of previous presidents reportedly trying to do the same.
“For two centuries they’ve been trying to do it. They should have kept it after World War II, but they had a different president. That’s all right. People think differently. Much more necessary now than it was at that time. However, in 2019, Denmark said that they would spend over $200 million to strengthen Greenland’s defenses. But as you know, they spent less than 1% of that amount. 1% is no sign of Denmark there,” the president continued.
FORMER REP. MTG DUMPS COLD WATER ON TRUMP’S GREENLAND ACQUISITION AMBITIONS: ‘WE’VE HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE’
Trump first publicly raised the idea of acquiring Greenland in 2019. The Arctic’s geography makes it a key corridor for long-range threats from major adversaries, elevating Greenland’s value as a location for sensors and tracking systems intended to protect North America.
Trump put European allies on notice to reach a deal on the island by Feb. 1 or face consequences. Goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff if no deal is reached by February, with the taxes increasing to 25% by June 1 if there is no deal.
European leaders at Davos largely treated Trump’s Greenland-linked tariff threats as economic coercion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for example, said Greenland is “non-negotiable” and that the EU would show “full solidarity” with Greenland.
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“In politics as in business: a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” von der Leyen added, referring to a trade deal the U.S. inked with the EU over the summer.
Trump doubles down on Greenland push as polls show little public support
As President Donald Trump escalates his efforts to acquire Greenland from Denmark, the latest national polls reveal that most Americans oppose taking over the massive and crucially strategic island that lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
Trump is holding crucial talks Wednesday on Greenland with NATO allies during a quick stop in Davos, Switzerland.
On the eve of his trip, the president said there is “no going back” on his efforts to take over Greenland. Asked at a White House news conference how far he’d go to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory, Trump said: “You’ll find out.” The president has also threatened tariffs against NATO members.
In his speech at Davos, the president said: “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.” But Trump added, “I don’t want to use force.”
WHY TRUMP ZEROED IN ON GREENLAND AND WHY IT MATTERS IN 3 MAPS
But Trump’s moves are facing opposition from Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill, and the most recent surveys suggest there’s little appetite among Americans to take over the island.
Eighty-six percent of voters nationwide questioned in a Quinnipiac University poll released last week said they would oppose military action to take over Greenland.
That includes 95% of Democrats, 94% of Independents and even more than two-thirds (68%) of Republicans surveyed by Quinnipiac Jan. 8-12.
DENMARK IN TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS AS US MAKES AMBITIOUS APPEAL TO GREENLAND
Three-quarters of Americans questioned in a CNN poll conducted at the same time said they opposed a U.S. takeover of Greenland. Ninety-four percent of Democrats and eight in 10 Independents said they would oppose such a move, with Republicans split 50%-50%.
Separately, only 14% surveyed in a CBS News poll conducted Jan. 14–16 said they would approve the use of military force to take the island.
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Meanwhile, by a 55%-37% margin, voters questioned in the Quinnipiac survey said they opposed any U.S. effort to try and buy Greenland.
But there’s a stark political divide on this question, with the vast majority of Democrats and nearly six in 10 Independents opposed to buying Greenland, and more than two-thirds of Republicans supporting such efforts.
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Trump has said in social media posts that “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of national security,” and that “anything less” than U.S. control of the island is “unacceptable.”
But the president’s push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland is causing massive tensions with Denmark and other NATO nations.
Davos braces for Trump amid tensions over NATO, Greenland and global defense
President Donald Trump has Europe on edge as he prepares to meet with foreign leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday and Thursday at the World Economic Forum.
The World Economic Forum is a Switzerland-based organization that convenes global political leaders, business executives, academics and activists each year in Davos to discuss major economic, political and social issues, with the U.S. and Trump expected to take center stage this year. Leaders from Germany to France to Norway and beyond are expected to attend.
Calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland and tariff threats loom over the event as Trump puts European allies on notice to reach a deal on the island by Feb. 1 or face consequences. Goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff if no deal is reached by February, with the taxes increasing to 25% by June 1 if there is no deal.
Top European leaders have balked over Trump’s demands to make a deal on Greenland, citing that NATO allies can work together to ensure the Arctic is secure. Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory nestled between North America and Europe in the Arctic Circle.
NORAD AIRCRAFT TO ARRIVE IN GREENLAND FOR ROUTINE EXERCISES
Trump wants to acquire the island — the largest island in the world –—from a national security standpoint, noting Russia’s and China’s growing presence in the Arctic. Greenland was a pivotal outpost during the Cold War because it was along the shortest routes between North America and the Soviet Union, allowing for speedy missile detection.
The World Economic Forum kicked off Monday, with some European leaders questioning their relationship with the U.S. as tariff threats loom. The threats follow the U.S. and EU reaching a comprehensive trade framework in 2025 that fixed a 15% tariff level on most EU exports.
“The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said from Davos on Monday, according to The Associated Press. “And in politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”
“We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,” she added.
GREENLAND IS AMERICA’S FRONTDOOR — FORGETTING THAT HAS DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said from a press conference in Nuuk ahead of the forum that there needs to be respect for “territorial integrity.”
“International law, it’s not a game,” he said. “We have been a close and loyal ally to the United States, to NATO, through many, many, many years. We can do lots more in that framework. We are willing to cooperate much more, but, of course, in mutual respect, and if we cannot see that, it will be very difficult to have a good and reliable partnership.”
Trump is set to hold a signing ceremony for the Gaza Board of Peace in Davos, Fox News confirmed Tuesday, which is styled as a new oversight body tied to the next phase of the Gaza peace plan. “Dozens” of countries have been invited to join the board, Fox News confirmed.
Some invited countries, however, have raised concerns about the terms of the proposed Gaza peace board, as participation would come with a substantial financial commitment, adding to the heightened tensions at the forum, Bloomberg reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, has increasingly become a target for Trump’s criticisms and denied membership on the board.
Macron’s office said the Board of Peace proposal “goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question,” according to Politico.
TRUMP FIRES OFF LATE NIGHT TRUTH SOCIAL POSTS DOUBLING DOWN ON GREENLAND AMBITIONS
Trump threatened additional tariffs on France when asked about Macron’s refusal to join the board.
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and Champagnes and he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
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Trump is expected to kick off a day of events and meetings in Davos at about 8 a.m. EST, before returning to the U.S. Thursday.