President Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, amid heightened tensions with Europe, ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland while continuing to push for U.S. control over the Danish territory.
“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. “Now everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, good.’ That’s probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
.@POTUS: "We never ask for anything, and we never got anything. 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… All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland, where… pic.twitter.com/G73psHvu62
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026
Despite ruling out military action, Trump emphasized that no other nation can defend Greenland as effectively as the United States and outlined plans for what he described as “immediate negotiations” with Denmark. “I have tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark, tremendous respect. But every NATO ally has an obligation to be able to defend their own territory, and the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States. We’re a great power,” he said.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed Trump’s decision to rule out force but cautioned that the underlying issue remains unresolved. “What was quite clear after this speech is that the president’s ambition is intact,” Rasmussen told reporters in Copenhagen.
The day is ending on a better note than it began. We welcome that POTUS has ruled out to take Greenland by force and paused the trade war. Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the KoD. pic.twitter.com/XWv1Ffo4UN
— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) January 21, 2026
While dismissing military action, Trump issued pointed warnings to NATO allies that resist his Greenland proposal. “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else … So, they have a choice. You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember,” he said.
.@POTUS: "We want a piece of ice for world protection… We’ve never asked for anything else—and we could have kept that piece of land, and we didn't. So, they have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember." pic.twitter.com/4zSk1O61zK
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026
Trump framed Greenland as both a financial and strategic asset. He said Denmark spends “hundreds of millions a year” to maintain the island and argued U.S. control would enhance security against rivals such as Russia and China. “It’s very important that we use that for national and international security. That can create a power that will make it impossible for the bad guys to do anything against the perceived good ones,” he said. “We will see what happens.”
Trump says Denmark spends hundreds of millions a year to run Greenland; Denmark is a small country and Greenland is a very big piece of ice. pic.twitter.com/6DPOYpNoRv
— The Inquiry (@InquiryTh) January 21, 2026
Danish and Greenlandic officials have consistently rejected the proposal, and several NATO allies, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, have condemned the push. European nations also recently sent small contingents of troops to Greenland for exercises, underscoring growing military interest in the Arctic.
Trump repeatedly questioned the reliability of NATO in defending U.S. interests, despite Denmark’s history of supporting the U.S., including military involvement following the 2001 terror attacks. “The problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100% but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us,” Trump said. “All we’re asking for is to get Greenland, including right, title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease. No. 1, legally it’s not defensible that way, totally. And No. 2, psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease which is a large piece of ice in the middle of the ocean, where, if there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice.”
Trump:
— The Horizon (@Horizon_Reports) January 21, 2026
All we’re asking for is Greenland full right, title, and ownership. Because you need ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease.
Number one: legally, it’s not defensible that way at all.
Number two: psychologically, who wants to defend a license agreement? pic.twitter.com/rQzmCCwRci
Trump’s statements come amid a broader standoff with Europe over trade and defense obligations, signaling that the Greenland proposal remains a central, if controversial, element of his international agenda.
