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Trump renews demand for Greenland in Davos speech, but says he ‘won’t use force’
What you need to know
• Trump in Davos: During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, US President Donald Trump doubled-down on his demand for control of Greenland. But he said he “won’t use force” — his clearest statement yet ruling out the use of military might to annex the Arctic island. Trump also issued harsh criticism of Europe and touted his domestic agenda.
• Greenland showdown: European officials are planning to use the forum to stage a diplomatic intervention to cool tensions over Greenland that have put the continent on edge and may now threaten the survival of NATO, three sources told CNN.
• Bessent’s appeal to European leaders: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said European countries pushing back on attempts to acquire Greenland should listen to Trump’s argument at the forum.
GOP senator on Trump ruling out taking Greenland by force: 'Unfortunate it needed to be said'
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Wednesday criticized President Donald Trump’s demand for US control of Greenland as an affront to the Greenlandic people, even as she applauded him for explicitly ruling out the use of military force to seize the country.
“It’s unfortunate that it needed to be said,” Murkowski told CNN on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. “I have relationships and friendships with the Greenlandic people, and I felt for them today. I felt deeply for them today because there was no recognition by President Trump that there are even people that exist as Greenlanders.”
The Alaskan senator, who has adamantly opposed the US acquiring Greenland, said that she agrees with Trump’s view that the Danish territory is strategically important. But she argued that its future should be determined by its citizens, taking particular issue with Trump’s description of Greenland as a “piece of ice.”
“He’s referring to it as a piece of real estate,” Murkowski said. “But it is a place where, again, you have native people who live there. You have communities.”
Like other US officials, Murkowski said worried European leaders have pressed her during the conference for insight into Trump’s intentions toward Greenland, especially after he threatened to impose tariffs on a group of US allies if they won’t support his plans there.
But she could only offer so many answers. At an event Tuesday night, Murkowski said she asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick what Trump planned to say in his speech.
“He’s going to say what he’s going to say,” she said Lutnick responded.
Trump reiterates he does not think military action necessary to acquire Greenland
President Donald Trump reiterated he does not think military action will be necessary to acquire Greenland.
“We’ll see what happens. The military’s not on the table. I don’t think it’ll be necessary. I really don’t. I think people are going to use better judgment, and use their best judgment, and I don’t think — that will not be necessary,” Trump said when asked what prompted him to take military action off the table, during a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Sisi also praised Trump for his role in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
“I re-emphasize it for our colleagues and before the media, but if not for President Trump, we wouldn’t have reached an agreement on the Gaza,” he said.
Trump said, “I appreciate what you said on Gaza, because it’s true. If we weren’t involved, there’d be no peace.”
He added if Hamas will be “taken out if they don’t get rid of the guns.”
Catch up on key moments from Trump’s remarks in Davos
President Donald Trump wrapped up his remarks at the World Economic Forum a short while ago, where he reiterated his demand to acquire Greenland and said he “won’t use force” — Trump’s clearest statement yet ruling out the use of military force to annex the Arctic island.
The president spoke for over an hour in Davos, Switzerland, where he also sharply criticized European allies.
If you’re just joining us, here are key lines from Trump’s address:
- US is best chance for secure Greenland, Trump says: Trump argued that “no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland, other than the United States.” He called for “immediate negotiations” with European allies in his bid to potentially acquire Greenland. He also argued that US control of Greenland would strengthen the NATO alliance.
- Trump slams Denmark: The US president called Denmark “ungrateful” for refusing to relinquish control of Greenland, contending that the nation owed the US for defending it during World War II.
- Harsh message to Europe: Trump told a convention hall full of European officials that parts of their continent were “not even recognizable.” The US president said, “I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” citing “increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports.”
- Doubling-down on NATO doubts: Trump again questioned NATO’s commitment to defending the US, asking today whether the transatlantic alliance would “be there for us.”
- Brushes off Ukraine: Trump dismissed Ukraine in his speech, saying that there is a “big, beautiful ocean” in between the US and Europe, and that the US has “nothing to do with it.”
- Cautions Canada: Trump warned Canada that the neighboring country should be more “grateful” toward the United States. He said that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney “wasn’t so grateful,” referring to his WEF speech yesterday.
- Venezuela mission: Trump touted the US mission to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the cooperation the country has provided since then, adding “more people should do that.”
- US domestic policy: Trump boasted that his agenda has generated an “economic miracle” in the United States, claiming that he’d disproved skeptics who predicted his tariffs and mass firing of federal workers would hurt the country. He said “people will soon be prosecuted” as he dug back into rhetoric about the 2020 election.
- Tirade against windmills: Trump spent a lengthy portion of his speech railing against the use of green energy, specifically windmills, suggesting it has led to Europe’s downfall.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Aileen Graef, Alayna Treene, Adam Cancryn, Catherine Nicholls and Betül Tuncer contributed to this reporting.
California Gov. Newsom calls Trump’s speech in Davos “remarkably insignificant”
US President Donald Trump’s address at the World Economic Forum today was “remarkably boring” and “remarkably insignificant,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“There wasn’t anything new about that speech for the American audience,” the governor added.
Trump “was never going to invade Greenland,” Newsom said.
EU freezes work on US trade deal "indefinitely" after Trump’s Greenland and tariff threats
A key group of European Parliament members blocked a vote to ratify a US-European trade deal today after US President Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland and charge additional 10% tariffs on countries opposed to his ambitions.
“EU-US Deal on ice indefinitely!” Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s trade committee, said in a post on X.
It’s unclear if this means the entire trade agreement has been called off or if it means parts that have already gone into effect will remain that way.
The EU and the US came to a preliminary agreement on the deal in July, putting much of it into effect before it was signed.
Sen. Lindsey Graham to Europe: "Shut up" and sell Greenland
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said that he planned to urge European leaders to sell Greenland to the US after President Donald Trump’s speech in Davos convinced him that the nation needs it for national security reasons.
“We’re not going to take Greenland by force, but we need Greenland for very good reasons,” Graham told reporters after Trump’s address. “He’s convinced me that if we own this piece of land, we can fortify it in a different way.”
Graham, a close Trump ally, added that he was now advising European officials to open negotiations over the territory’s ownership “if you’ve got half a brain,” arguing that it would ultimately strengthen NATO.
The GOP senator’s remarks came after he spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who appeared deeply concerned by Trump’s remarks.
Graham acknowledged that Stubb was worried, saying “everybody in Europe is concerned,” but he said he’d insisted to the Finnish leader that he should not fight Trump’s push to own Greenland.
“I’m tired of Europe going, ‘Oh, tell him to … ,’” Graham said. “No, you shut up. I’m not going to tell him, you go tell him.”
Stubb, who was huddling with aides after Trump’s speech, declined to answer questions.
Military use to acquire Greenland would be like taking a "wrecking ball" to NATO, former US VP says
Former US Vice President Al Gore said it was a “good thing” to hear US President Donald Trump telling the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he does not intend to use military force to acquire Greenland.
Gore said he does not agree with Trump’s assessment that the US has a right to Greenland, citing Denmark’s history of support for the US.
“When the United States was attacked on 9/11, Denmark immediately responded as part of NATO and had more per capita casualties than any other member of NATO,” he said.
Trump meets with Swiss president and discusses trade with Switzerland
President Donald Trump met with the President of the Swiss Federation Guy Parmelin, where he praised Swiss watches and US Ambassador Callista Gingrich.
“You do have a great ambassador,” he said after Parmelin praised her, adding, “She keeps her husband in line,” referring to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“You’re a great country, beautiful country. You do make great watches,” Trump added.
Parmelin sought to correct Trump about the “imbalance” in trade he referenced in his speech, saying there was actually a surplus.
“We happened to be in Switzerland. Maybe I’ll give you a quick story. But they were paying nothing. They make beautiful watches, great watches, Rolex, all of them, they were paying nothing to the United States when they sent their product. And we had a $41 billion deficit,” Trump said in his speech earlier Wednesday, when he was critical of the country.
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