Topline
President Donald Trump on Wednesday ruled out using military force to take over Greenland in his address to world leaders in Davos, but called for “immediate negotiations” to discuss his desire to acquire the Danish territory, wrongly arguing the U.S. “gave Greenland back” to Denmark after World War II.
President Donald Trump delivers a special address during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)
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Key Facts
“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 during his address at the World Economic Forum, walking back his previous statements leaving open the possibility of using the military to take over Greenland.
Trump called for “immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland” during his speech at the World Economic Forum, insisting it “would not be a threat to NATO but would greatly enhance the entire alliance.”
Trump said the U.S. was “stupid” to give “Greenland back to Denmark” after World War II, accusing Denmark and Greenland of being “ungrateful” for U.S. support during the war.
The U.S. defended Greenland and Denmark after Nazi forces occupied Denmark, but it never acquired the Danish territory.
After the war, Denmark rejected an offer from former U.S. President Harry Truman to purchase Greenland for $100 million.
Crucial Quote
“So, we want a piece of ice for world protection and they won’t give it,” Trump said about Denmark and NATO’s refusal to cede control of Greenland. “We’ve never asked for anything else. We could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t. So, they have a choice: you can say yes and we will be very appreciative or you can say no and we will remember.”
Tangent
Trump took the stage at approximately 8:40 a.m. ET Wednesday, shortly after arriving in Switzerland hours later than planned due to an electrical issue on his flight from Washington, D.C., the White House said.
Key Background
Trump is delivering the address to world leaders days after doubling down on his threats to take over Greenland and threatening tariffs against some NATO allies, prompting panic among longtime U.S. allies. Trump over the weekend threatened to impose 10% tariffs, starting Feb. 1, on eight European countries that provided enhanced military support to Greenland in the wake of his threats to take over the Danish territory. Trump said he was speaking to “friends” and “few enemies” as he began his address, a noteworthy introduction after he was widely criticized by world leaders at the conference Tuesday for his aggressive rhetoric on Greenland. Addressing what he said is the decline of Europe, Trump said “I love Europe and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction” (Trump has previously said Europe is “weak” and “decaying,” he told Politico in an interview last month).
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/01/21/trump-speaks-to-friends-and-few-enemies-at-davos-amid-heightened-tensions-over-greenland-live-updates/
