Trump Urges NATO to OK Greenland Transfer Peacefully, Says He Won’t Use Force/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump told world leaders at the Davos forum that the U.S. wants to acquire Greenland with NATO’s blessing — but said he won’t use force to do so. His remarks escalated tensions with European allies, overshadowing his domestic message on housing affordability. Trump’s threats of tariffs and the promotion of his “Board of Peace” sparked global pushback.
Trump’s Davos Speech on Greenland and Global Tensions Quick Looks
- Trump calls on NATO to allow U.S. acquisition of Greenland
- Says he will not use military force to take the island
- Warns allies they’ll be remembered if they say no
- Claims Greenland is “part of North America” and U.S. territory
- Repeatedly criticizes European allies and trade relationships
- Threatens 10% to 25% tariffs on Denmark and others
- Links Greenland frustrations to Nobel Peace Prize snub
- Macron, von der Leyen, and Starmer push back on U.S. stance
- Domestic housing affordability message sidelined by foreign policy focus
- Trump confused Greenland with Iceland multiple times during speech
Deep Look
Trump Tells NATO to Allow U.S. Control of Greenland, Pledges Not to Use Force at Davos Forum
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Donald Trump escalated his push for U.S. control of Greenland, urging NATO allies to support the acquisition peacefully — while vowing not to use force, unless absolutely necessary. The president’s remarks ignited fresh diplomatic tensions and shifted global attention away from his intended domestic focus on affordability and housing.
“I want to get Greenland — including right, title, and ownership,” Trump said in a speech delivered to a standing-room-only crowd inside the forum’s Congress Hall. “What I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located. It’s a very small ask compared to what we’ve given NATO for decades.”
Trump then offered NATO leaders a stark choice: “You can say yes, and we’ll be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”
He insisted he would not resort to military action. “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won’t do that,” Trump said. “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
Instead, he proposed opening “immediate negotiations” with Denmark, arguing that Greenland is part of North America and therefore within the United States’ rightful sphere of influence. “That’s our territory,” he declared.
Economic Focus Eclipsed by Arctic Ambitions
Trump’s highly anticipated Davos appearance was meant to spotlight his domestic agenda, including plans to address rising home prices and affordability. But his Greenland rhetoric dominated the headlines.
The president arrived hours late due to an electrical issue aboard Air Force One, which forced a return to Washington and a switch to another aircraft. His motorcade’s arrival in Davos was met with mixed reactions — some onlookers cheered, while others made obscene gestures or displayed signs criticizing him.
Inside the hall, billionaire investors and global policymakers crowded in to hear Trump speak, listening in multiple languages through headsets. Reaction was polite but cautious, with moments of applause punctuated by silence.
Despite the original intent to speak about housing costs, Trump shifted quickly to global issues and repeated grievances with European allies. He claimed Europe was in economic decline, in contrast to a booming U.S. economy.
“I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” Trump said. “We want strong allies, not seriously weakened ones.”
Tariff Threats and Diplomatic Fallout
Trump’s threat of tariffs on Denmark and seven other U.S. allies loomed over the forum. He warned that unless negotiations over Greenland begin, a 10% tariff would be imposed next month, rising to 25% in June.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded firmly, stating the EU would react with “unflinching, united and proportional” measures. “A deal is a deal,” she said, referencing a U.S.-EU trade agreement reached just months earlier.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also pushed back. “Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs,” he told Parliament ahead of the forum.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the erosion of multilateralism, calling on leaders to reject “the law of the strongest,” though he didn’t name Trump directly.
Making matters worse, Trump reportedly told Norway’s prime minister that his aggressive Greenland strategy was tied to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. “I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” Trump allegedly wrote in a message circulating among European officials.
Domestic Messaging Sidelined
Trump briefly mentioned U.S. housing costs but seemed to undercut his own policy stance. While his administration has proposed buying $200 billion in mortgage securities to lower interest rates and restricting hedge funds from purchasing homes, Trump suggested falling home prices were a bad thing.
“When prices come down, people feel poorer,” he said, claiming high home values help families feel wealthy.
Policy analysts warn that his Greenland tariff threats could worsen housing affordability. “Significantly undermining investor confidence would likely increase interest rates and make homes even less affordable,” said Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute.
According to a recent AP-NORC poll, 6 in 10 U.S. adults now say Trump has hurt the cost of living. Housing sales are at a 30-year low, and mortgage rates remain elevated.
Peace Board and NATO Warnings
Trump also reiterated his vision for a new “Board of Peace” to replace or rival the United Nations. He plans to promote the board during a Thursday event in Davos, with only a few world leaders — mostly non-democratic — having accepted his invitation.
The plan stems from U.S.-brokered negotiations that led to a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. But traditional allies like Britain, France, and Germany have declined to join or remain noncommittal.
Despite asserting that the UN “hasn’t lived up to its potential,” Trump said, “I believe you’ve got to let the UN continue, because the potential is so great.”
Still, his focus remained on Greenland, even as he confused it with Iceland multiple times during the speech — a mistake he has made repeatedly throughout the week.
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