Trump dismisses using force to take Greenland while labeling Denmark 'ungrateful'
DAVOS, Swtizerland (TNND) — President Donald Trump insisted at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, that he wouldn't use force to take Greenland but renewed his demand for the United States to take over "a piece of ice, cold and poorly located."
“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,” Trump said.
He continued his case by calling Denmark "ungrateful" and claimed the nation owed the U.S. for defending it during World War II, stating, “Denmark fell to Germany after just six hours of fighting, and was totally unable to defend either itself or Greenland. So the United States was then compelled, and we did it."
“How stupid were we to do that?” he added. “But we did it, but we gave it back. But how ungrateful are they now?”
Trump originally said he would speak about affordability and the economy, but kept veering his speech towards European allies who refuse to support his plans to take Greenland for national security reasons.
Last week, Trump threatened more import taxes on Denmark and seven other allies unless they negotiate a transfer of the semi-autonomous territory owned by NATO ally Denmark. Tariffs are set to start at 10% next month and climb to 25% in June.
Trump also wasted no time criticizing Europe, calling it "not even recognizable" and saying the continent's immigration policies and economic policies led to catastrophic consequences compared to the "economic miracle" happening in the United States.
"I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction," he said. “We want strong allies, not seriously weakened ones."
On Tuesday, Trump agreed to a meeting about Greenland at the international forum following a call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland," Trump announced on Truth Social. "As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back -- On that, everyone agrees!"
This all comes amid rising tensions over a text message Trump sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, explaining that he no longer felt bound to think only about peace because he had not received the Nobel Peace Prize.
"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," Trump wrote.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Davos panel on Tuesday that he and Trump planned to deliver a stark message: “Globalization has failed the West and the United States of America. It’s a failed policy."
“This will be an interesting trip,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House on Tuesday evening for his flight to Davos. “I have no idea what’s going to happen, but you are well represented.”
His trip to Davos got off to a difficult start when a small electrical problem on Air Force One led the crew to turn around the plane about 30 minutes into the flight out of an abundance of caution. That pushed the president's arrival in Switzerland back hours.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that should Trump move forward with the tariffs, the bloc's response “will be unflinching, united and proportional." She pointedly suggested that Trump's new tariff threat could also undercut a US-EU trade framework reached this summer, which the Trump administration had worked hard to seal.
“The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July,” von der Leyen said in Davos. “And in politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”
On Thursday, Trump plans to have an event to talk about the “Board of Peace,” a new body meant to oversee the end of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Fewer than 10 leaders have accepted invitations to join the group so far, including a handful of leaders considered to be anti-democratic authoritarians. Several of America’s main European partners have declined or been noncommittal, including Britain, France and Germany.
Trump on Tuesday told reporters that his peace board “might” eventually make the U.N. obsolete but insisted he wants to see the international body stick around.
“I believe you got to let the U.N. continue, because the potential is so great," Trump said.
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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
