Trump Defends Greenland Push, Hints at Replacing UN at White House Briefing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ On the anniversary of his second inauguration, President Donald Trump addressed the press in a sprawling White House briefing that touched on immigration, Greenland, the United Nations, and former President Joe Biden. Trump floated the idea of replacing the UN with his “Board of Peace” and doubled down on his ambition to acquire Greenland. His comments came amid growing friction with NATO allies and European leaders ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump’s White House Briefing Sparks International Reaction Quick Looks
- Trump suggests his Board of Peace “might” replace the United Nations
- Reaffirms goal of acquiring Greenland, meeting with global leaders soon
- French President Macron criticizes Trump’s foreign policy at Davos
- Trump accuses NATO allies of failing to support the U.S.
- Repeatedly blames Joe Biden for issues ranging from immigration to inflation
- Shares mugshots of undocumented migrants during press conference
- Announces support for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado
- Complains about lack of positive press coverage on economy and immigration
Deep Look
Trump Hints at Replacing United Nations, Defends Greenland Push in White House Briefing
President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging and controversial press briefing from the White House on Tuesday, marking the one-year anniversary of his return to the presidency. The address covered key foreign policy issues, domestic concerns, and included renewed criticism of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump also used the occasion to float bold ideas, such as replacing the United Nations and acquiring Greenland.
Speaking from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction with the performance of the United Nations. He proposed that his newly established “Board of Peace,” created during recent negotiations to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, could potentially take the place of the UN.
“The UN just hasn’t been very helpful,” Trump said. “I’m a big fan of the UN’s potential, but it has never lived up to its potential. The UN should have settled every one of the wars that I settled. I never went to them, I never even thought to go to.”
The Board of Peace, which Trump claims played a role in negotiating the recent ceasefire in Gaza, has invited global leaders to participate. Among the invitees is Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the reception has been mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron declined the invitation, questioning the panel’s scope and legitimacy.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher responded firmly during a CNN interview, saying, “The United Nations isn’t going anywhere.” Fletcher and other officials dismissed the idea that Trump’s Board of Peace could replace the established international institution.
Trump’s foreign policy remarks come at a sensitive moment. He is expected to travel to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, where tensions with European allies have escalated—especially over his repeated assertions that the U.S. should acquire Greenland.
In social media posts, Trump revealed messages from world leaders reacting to his Greenland ambitions.
One message from Macron read: “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.” Trump has agreed to a diplomatic meeting later this week to discuss the Arctic island with “the various parties involved.”
During the press briefing, Trump reignited concerns among NATO allies by questioning whether the alliance would defend the United States if needed.
“I did more for NATO than any other person alive or dead,” Trump declared. “But I question whether they’ll come to our rescue. We always show up for them, but would they do the same for us?”
These comments echoed Trump’s previous skepticism toward NATO and followed his threats to impose tariffs on European nations if negotiations over Greenland fail.
The press conference, intended to highlight Trump’s accomplishments from his first year back in office, quickly turned into a criticism-laden event. Trump frequently brought up former President Joe Biden, referring to him as “Sleepy Joe” and “Crooked Joe,” and blamed him for issues like border security, inflation, and international relations.
“You can call him whatever you like,” Trump said. “He’s sleepy and he’s crooked. He was one of the worst presidents we’ve ever had.”
He also brought attention to immigration enforcement efforts, arriving at the briefing with a stack of mugshots of undocumented migrants apprehended in Minnesota.
He held up the photos, saying, “You’re not getting bored with this, right?” while defending his crackdown on illegal immigration. He later pivoted to express support for Hispanic Americans, calling them “unbelievable entrepreneurial.”
Trump also took time to criticize the press for what he described as an unfair portrayal of his accomplishments. “Maybe I have bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across,” he said. “We inherited high numbers, and we brought them way down.”
On Venezuela, Trump signaled support for opposition leader María Corina Machado. He said he would like her to be involved in shaping the country’s leadership. Machado had recently visited the White House and presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize.
“An unbelievably nice woman also did a very incredible thing, as you know,” Trump said. “We can get her involved in some way.”
Trump’s statements about Venezuela reflect a nuanced shift from earlier in his term, when he had shown deference to the Maduro-aligned acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Now, his public alignment with Machado suggests a firmer stance in favor of democratic reform.
The White House briefing served as both a stage for policy announcements and a preview of Trump’s messaging ahead of a pivotal election year. With increasing international scrutiny over Greenland and ongoing debate over U.S. global leadership, Trump’s rhetoric signaled that his second term will continue to challenge traditional diplomatic norms.
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