Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
J. Christian Spielvogel, Teaching Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences, Penn State

How ‘portfolio reasoning’ explains Trump’s constant reevaluation of America’s value

President Donald Trump takes questions after his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 21, 2026. AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

In January 2026, President Donald Trump told an audience of business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, that the United States needed the “right, title and ownership” to Greenland “because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease.”

A territory of roughly 57,000 people appears to the president as property to be acquired.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.