President Donald Trump delivered a high-stakes address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he renewed push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
Trump declared he was seeking “immediate negotiations” to discuss the U.S. acquisition of Greenland, arguing it as essential for national security and Arctic dominance. He said the U.S. could have retained control of the territory after deploying troops during World War II to prevent Nazi occupation, calling it a “piece of ice” that Denmark should be willing to sell.
In a major shift from earlier rhetoric, Trump ruled out the use of military force, saying: “I won’t use force. I don’t want to use force. We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force… but I won’t do that.”
Following a “very productive meeting” with **NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced that a “framework of a future deal” had been formed regarding Greenland and the entire Arctic Region. He confirmed he would drop his threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations and NATO members unless they supported the Greenland deal, citing the new framework as a reason to halt the trade pressure.
Trump named Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations.
The Greenland issue had escalated over the past two weeks, with Trump threatening 10% tariffs on eight European nations unless they backed his acquisition push. The Davos summit became a flashpoint in U.S.-European relations, with allies expressing alarm over Trump’s transactional foreign policy.
Trump has long argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is vital for national security, citing its strategic Arctic location and potential for critical minerals. He's also referenced the U.S. military presence during WWII as justification.
Danish officials emphasized that the issue must be resolved through diplomacy and respect for Greenland’s right to self-determination. Greenland’s leaders expressed concern over being excluded from talks.
In the speech, Trump also launched a scathing critique of European values, noting that “certain places in Europe are not recognizable anymore” due to “unchecked mass migration, endless foreign imports, and ever-increasing government spending.” He demanded that Europe change its course on immigration, energy policy, and cultural direction, warning: “If they don’t change, bad things will happen.”
The president compared U.S. interest in Greenland to Europe’s historical imperial expansion, suggesting his request was a legitimate, modern-day economic and strategic move.
Trump's push sparked fierce opposition from Denmark, Greenland’s government, and allies like Canada and France. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a blunt speech warning that Trump’s actions threaten the global order, calling Trump's policies “a rupture, not a transition,” and strongly opposed tariffs over Greenland.
Denmark’s former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen dismissed the U.S. interest as a “weapon of mass distraction,” warning that military action would end NATO and benefit autocrats like Russian and Chinese presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
During a meeting with Trump in Davos Wednesday, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte, affirmed Europe's commitment: he reassured the president that NATO would defend the U.S. if attacked, countering Trump’s earlier remarks casting doubts about alliance reliability.
The White House defended Trump’s repeated references to “Iceland” in the speech, noting it was a 'typo' for “Greenland,” and that his remarks were based on a draft that described Greenland as a “piece of ice.”
In the speech, Trump praised U.S. economic strength, claiming the country is “keeping the whole world afloat,” and criticized Europe for underpaying for U.S. prescription drugs, citing a hilarious private negotiation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump promoted his “20-point plan” to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, proposing a Board of Peace with $1 billion membership fees and permanent U.S. chairmanship, even after his presidency.
The U.S. president also pushed for U.S. congressional action on housing affordability, capping credit card interest rates at 10%, and banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes.
At one point during his speech, Trump mocked President Macron, who had rejected his invitation to join the proposed Board of Peace.
Macron had delivered a strong rebuke the day before, calling U.S. threats to impose tariffs on French wine and champagne — to pressure Europe into allowing the U.S. to buy Greenland — as “fundamentally unacceptable.” He pledged France would stand up to “bullies” and reject “the law of the strongest.
Speaking to the global elites, Trump said: “I watched him yesterday, with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?” — drawing laughter from the audience.
The sunglasses, a pair of large, mirrored, blue-tinted aviators, were worn by Macron during his keynote address on Tuesday, despite being indoors. The move sparked widespread attention and viral memes, with many joking about a speculation he was beat up by his "wife" Brigitte Macron who many believe was born a man.
The real reason behind the sunglasses, Macron claimed, was a medical issue, he had recently suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his right eye, which caused swelling and sensitivity to light. His office said the sunglasses were worn for eye protection, not fashion. The French President had previously joked about the injury, comparing his bloodshot eye to the “Eye of the Tiger.”
Despite the mockery, Trump said he “actually likes” Macron, highlighting the complex mix of personal rapport and geopolitical rivalry.
