DAVOS, Switzerland — President Trump reiterated his determination to take control of Greenland from Denmark during a 72-minute tirade at the World Economic Forum — but seemingly ruled out using force to do so.
Why it matters: European allies have been bracing for a clash with Trump over Greenland this week in the Swiss Alps.
- Trump began the Greenland portion of his speech by calling for "immediate negotiations" to acquire the Arctic territory, mocking Denmark for losing it "in six hours" during World War II.
- But he also signaled it was time for de-escalation with NATO, dismissing fears that the U.S. military would attack its own allies.
What they're saying: Trump said that if the U.S. decided to take Greenland by force it would be "unstoppable," but "I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland."
- "It's the United States alone that can protect this giant piece of land, this giant piece of ice, develop it and improve it," Trump said, declaring that the U.S. was a "great power" and arguing Denmark simply wasn't.
- Between his sharp criticisms of NATO and Europe, Trump repeatedly signaled that fears of invasion were overblown: "They have a choice: You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember."
Driving the news: Trump insulted a string of countries and several fellow world leaders, seemingly straying from his prepared remarks for much of his address.
- "The United States is keeping the whole world afloat," Trump claimed, and countries including Switzerland — the forum's host country — are trying to take advantage. "Without us, most of the countries don't even work."
- He also mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, recounting a conversation about prescription drugs in which he claimed to have told Macron: "You've been screwing us for 30 years."
Breaking it down: With transatlantic relations at a new low, Trump began the speech with a critique rather than an olive branch for his European allies.
- "Certain places in Europe are not even recognizable anymore. And we can argue about it but there's no argument," Trump said.
- He said Europe was "not heading in the right direction" and was plagued by problems "driven by the largest wave of mass migration in human history."
- Trump also claimed the U.S. had saved Europe during World War II. "Without us, right now, you'd all be speaking German and little Japanese."
The U.S., by contrast, was seeing "the fastest and most dramatic economic turnaround in our country's history," Trump claimed.
- He added that "inflation has been defeated" — a contention many American consumers would disagree with.
- "The USA is the economic engine on the planet, and when it booms the entire world booms," Trump proclaimed. "You all follow us down, and you follow us up."
Zoom in: While Davos typically hosts dozens of panels about combatting climate change, Trump spoke at length about the benefits of oil over alternative energy.
- He repeatedly denounced the "green new scam" and boasted that he was "taking down" windmills.
Zoom out: Trump loomed over Davos long before he arrived on Wednesday, with allies lining up to declare a "rupture" in the U.S.-led world order and huddling to debate how to respond to Trump's latest threats.
- The hours leading up to Trump's speech saw a sell-off of U.S. assets sparked by Trump's threat to impose tariffs on allies if the U.S. isn't handed Greenland.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been urging countries not to retaliate against Trump's tariffs and on Wednesday dismissed a report that "Europeans would be selling US assets."
- The U.S.-Europe friction has been hard to miss at Davos. On Tuesday evening, European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde reportedly walked out of a dinner during pugnacious remarks by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
On the scene: When the doors opened ahead of Trump's speech, there was a frenzy among the well-heeled attendees jostling each other to squeeze their way in. Most who waited in line were blocked from entering the packed hall.
- While security is always a priority at the forum, crowd control clearly is not.
- Trump may not be popular with the Davos set, but there's no doubt he's biggest ticket in town.
