EU’s von der Leyen Calls Trump’s Greenland‑Linked Tariff Threat a 'Mistake' as Markets Dip Again Ahead of Davos and White House Marks First Year of Second Term
President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European allies (10% Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June unless a “complete and total purchase” of Greenland is agreed) — and his wider push to acquire the island including hints at military options — has provoked European troop deployments to Greenland, mass protests, broad allied condemnation and a fresh market selloff (U.S. indexes and futures down about 1%–1.7%). Speaking at Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariff threat “a mistake,” warned it could imperil the recent U.S.–EU trade deal and pledged a united, proportional response, as the White House prepared a press event marking the first year of Trump’s second term.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump has publicly pressed to acquire Greenland — saying U.S. control is vital to national security — and the White House has discussed a “wide range of options,” including purchase, a compact of free association and, according to officials’ comments, the use of U.S. military force; after high‑level talks in Washington the U.S., Denmark and Greenland agreed to a high‑level working group amid what Denmark called a “fundamental disagreement.”
- Trump announced tariffs designed to coerce allied support for his Greenland objective: 10% duties on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland beginning Feb. 1, 2026, rising to 25% on June 1 unless a “complete and total purchase” is reached; the legal basis for country‑specific emergency tariffs is unclear and could rely on economic emergency powers already under judicial challenge.
- Several European NATO members rapidly deployed small contingents to Greenland (France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, the U.K., the Netherlands, Finland and others) and Denmark increased its military footprint there as part of Operation Arctic Endurance — European leaders described the moves as Arctic defense training and deterrence, and many officials framed them as a signal against any U.S. seizure.
- The EU’s leadership pushed back strongly at Davos: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariff threat a “mistake,” warned it risks a downward spiral in transatlantic relations, pledged solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, and said the EU stands ready to use its anti‑coercion ‘trade bazooka’ and an investment/security package for the Arctic; U.S. Treasury and other officials urged calm and diplomacy.
- Denmark and Greenland have rejected U.S. takeover efforts — Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s PM Jens‑Frederik Nielsen said Greenland is not for sale and would choose Denmark/NATO — and thousands protested in Nuuk (and in Copenhagen), while polling shows strong U.S. opposition to using military force or federal funds to buy Greenland.
- Domestic U.S. pushback is growing: bipartisan congressional delegations flew to reassure Denmark and Greenland, lawmakers introduced measures to block unauthorized military action, and senior members of both parties publicly warned that the rhetoric undermines NATO and trade agreements.
- The dispute has had immediate market and security effects: U.S. and European stock futures fell on the tariff threats (S&P futures down ~1.4% on a key session), safe‑haven assets rose, NORAD and allied Arctic exercises and deployments (including activity at Pituffik) were underscored as routine by commanders even as Russia criticized NATO’s moves, and experts noted that any response to a hypothetical U.S. move would be politically driven because NATO has no mechanism to expel a member that attacks another.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Greenland is America's frontdoor — forgetting that has dangerous consequences
"The opinion piece defends President Trump’s aggressive Greenland push — including tariffs and assertive diplomacy — arguing the Arctic’s missile‑warning geography and critical‑minerals importance make Greenland a strategic imperative that outweighs allied objections and short‑term diplomatic costs."
🔬 Explanations (7)
Deeper context and explanatory frameworks for understanding this story
Phenomenon: Overhaul of U.S. dietary guidelines to prioritize whole foods and reduce processed foods
Explanation: Shift driven by institutional capture by new administration figures opposing food industry interests, aiming to address rising chronic diseases through policy emphasizing prevention over pharmaceutical interventions
Evidence: Guidelines respond to data showing ultra-processed foods linked to increased risks of obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, with goals to reduce healthcare spending amid a chronic health crisis affecting over 40% of children
Alternative view: Technological changes in food production enabling cheap processed foods, leading to cultural shifts in eating habits
💡 Complicates coverage by highlighting systemic failures in past bipartisan policies favoring processed foods, rather than just new administration's agenda
Phenomenon: Scaling back of recommended childhood immunizations
Explanation: Policy change influenced by leadership's skepticism of vaccine overload, aligning U.S. schedule with peer nations to boost public trust and uptake amid declining vaccination rates
Evidence: Assessment compared U.S. recommendations to other countries, noting mistrust has led to disease resurgence; reduces from 17 to 11 vaccines to focus on essential ones based on scientific review
Alternative view: Cultural shifts driven by misinformation amplifying anti-vaccine sentiments
💡 Challenges implicit narrative of arbitrary anti-science moves by emphasizing data-driven comparisons to international standards and aims to increase overall vaccine confidence
Phenomenon: U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, including capture of Maduro and seizure of assets
Explanation: Driven by economic interests in accessing Venezuelan oil reserves and retaliating against nationalization of U.S. assets, framed under national security to counter alleged narco-terrorism
Evidence: Intervention follows accusations of drug trafficking and asset seizures costing billions; aims to oversee oil production, with Trump meeting oil executives to discuss extraction
Alternative view: Historical precedents of U.S. interventions in Latin America under Monroe Doctrine-like policies for geopolitical dominance
💡 Complicates coverage focused on humanitarian or anti-drug motives by underscoring economic incentives benefiting U.S. oil industry, potentially at odds with international law
Phenomenon: Consideration of military force to acquire Greenland
Explanation: Motivated by strategic national security interests in the Arctic, including military basing and resource access amid climate change and competition with Russia and China
Evidence: Greenland's location offers defensive advantages and access to melting ice revealing minerals; U.S. already has a base there, with concerns over Denmark's insufficient investment
Alternative view: Historical U.S. expansionism, drawing from past attempts to purchase territories
💡 Differs from sensational coverage of eccentricity by linking to broader technological shifts like Arctic thawing, elevating it to a systemic geopolitical strategy
Phenomenon: Resurgence of spheres of influence in international relations
Explanation: Shifts in the global balance of power, particularly the rise of powers like China and Russia challenging U.S. predominance, lead to new equilibria where dominant states establish spheres of influence to maintain stability and prevent conflicts in contested regions.
Evidence: Analysis shows that when power equilibria shift, spheres emerge as a mechanism for great powers to manage influence without direct confrontation, drawing on historical patterns from the Cold War and post-Cold War eras.
Alternative view: Ideological factors, such as differing visions of international order, where great powers pursue spheres based on national interests and security concerns rather than purely power-based shifts.
💡 This explanation complicates typical coverage by framing U.S. actions in Venezuela as part of a broader great power competition mirroring Russia's in Ukraine, rather than isolated aggression, highlighting mutual sphere assertions.
Phenomenon: Rise of populism and political realignment
Explanation: Populism in the U.S., driven by societal transformations, economic grievances, and elite failures, leads to foreign policies that externalize domestic problems, emphasizing unilateral actions, protectionism, and aggressive defense of national interests to appeal to populist bases.
Evidence: Case studies illustrate how populist leaders like Trump reframe foreign policy to address internal issues like economic inequality by pursuing deals and interventions that prioritize 'America First' narratives.
Alternative view: Populism as a rhetorical strategy rather than ideology, where leaders use foreign policy for domestic political gains without deep structural changes.
💡 It challenges the narrative by connecting U.S. actions to domestic populist pressures, suggesting they are symptoms of internal realignments rather than purely geopolitical strategy.
Phenomenon: Institutional trust collapse
Explanation: Increasing skepticism among U.S. citizens towards international alliances, fueled by perceptions of uneven burden-sharing and doubts about long-term commitments, erodes trust in institutions like NATO, especially under leadership prioritizing national interests over multilateralism.
Evidence: Surveys indicate rising public doubt in the U.S. about the value of permanent alliances, contributing to alliance instability and reduced cohesion in transatlantic relations.
Alternative view: Structural asymmetries within NATO, such as differing threat perceptions between members, leading to trust deficits independent of public opinion.
💡 This complicates coverage by linking U.S. actions to broader distrust trends, portraying alliance destabilization as a result of domestic shifts rather than isolated policy choices.
📰 Source Timeline (57)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 20, 2026
5:35 PM
Trump to speak at White House press briefing to mark first year of second term
New information:
- Confirms that Trump will personally appear at the 1 p.m. White House press briefing to mark one year since his second inauguration before flying to Davos.
- Reports that Trump’s weekend threat to slap tariffs on eight European countries over their resistance to his Greenland acquisition push sent major stock indices down at least 1% on Tuesday.
- Details Trump’s escalating rhetorical pressure on European allies, including calling the U.K.–Mauritius Chagos transfer 'great stupidity' and highlighting a note from French President Emmanuel Macron saying, 'I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.'
- Quotes California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Davos urging European leaders to 'develop a backbone' and call Greenland a 'manufactured crisis,' arguing Trump has boxed himself in because it is 'pretty damn obvious he's not going to invade.'
- Adds that more than 10 countries have privately signed onto Trump’s planned Gaza 'Board of Peace,' beyond the five public acceptances already reported (UAE, Belarus, Morocco, Hungary and Canada).
5:01 PM
Trump's era of volatility returns
New information:
- Details short‑term market reaction to the tariff threat: S&P 500 down more than 1%, dollar down 0.9% versus a basket of major currencies, and 10‑year Treasury yield up about 13 basis points from Friday.
- Reinforces that tariffs on eight NATO allies are set at 10% starting Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June absent a Greenland deal or White House reversal, framing them as 'near certainty' without a climb‑down.
- Notes that this tariff push undermines the meaning and perceived stability of trade deals the White House negotiated in 2025, reviving a climate of policy whiplash for CEOs and investors.
- Captures how corporate and financial leaders at Davos are characterizing Trump’s approach as inherently volatile, with one bank CEO saying that 'whatever happens before tomorrow can be turned over again when Trump speaks.'
3:50 PM
European Union leader calls Trump's tariff threat over Greenland a mistake
New information:
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a Jan. 20 Davos speech, explicitly called President Trump’s proposed tariffs on eight NATO allies over Greenland a 'mistake,' warning they risk a 'downward spiral' in transatlantic relations.
- Von der Leyen stressed that the EU–U.S. July 2025 trade deal must be honored, saying 'a deal is a deal, and when friends shake hands, it must mean something.'
- She said the EU’s response to any U.S. tariffs would be 'unflinching, united and proportional,' and framed it as 'full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,' calling their sovereignty and territorial integrity 'non‑negotiable.'
- Von der Leyen announced the EU is working on a package to support Arctic security and infrastructure, specifically backing Greenland and Denmark while still pledging to cooperate with the U.S. on wider Arctic security.
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told parliament that 'the worst may still be ahead of us' in the standoff and said, 'We are now being threatened by our closest ally.'
- Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen said his government has met with NATO members and allies and called for unity based on 'respect for national, territorial integrity' and international law.
3:37 PM
Top EU official calls Trump's Greenland tariff threat a mistake
New information:
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at Davos on Jan. 20, called Trump’s planned February tariffs on imports from eight European nations over Greenland a 'mistake' between allies and said 'a deal is a deal.'
- Von der Leyen vowed the EU response would be 'unflinching, united and proportional' and explicitly framed Trump’s move as undermining trust in U.S. commitments under a July trade deal.
- French President Emmanuel Macron signaled the EU may deploy its new anti‑coercion instrument — dubbed the 'trade bazooka' — as a potential retaliatory tool against U.S. economic pressure tied to Greenland.
- Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen publicly insisted from Nuuk that respect for international law and territorial integrity is 'not a game,' stressing Greenland’s loyalty as a NATO ally but warning cooperation requires 'mutual respect.'
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told parliament 'the worst may still be ahead of us,' saying Denmark has sought cooperation, not conflict, in the Greenland dispute.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also in Davos, downplayed the rift by saying U.S.–EU relations have 'never been closer' and urged partners to 'take a deep breath' and let tensions over the Greenland tariffs 'play out.'
2:17 PM
Stock futures slide after Trump threatens European allies with tariffs
New information:
- Details the immediate market reaction: S&P 500 futures down 1.4% (–99 points), Dow futures down 1.3% (600+ points), Nasdaq futures down 1.7%, and major European indexes off more than 1% on a second straight down day.
- Specifies Trump’s announced tariff schedule: a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland starting in February, rising to 25% on June 1 until a Greenland purchase deal is reached.
- Notes EU consideration of retaliatory steps, including retaliatory tariffs and potential first‑ever use of the EU anti‑coercion instrument in response to Trump’s Greenland‑linked tariff threat.
- Reports Trump texted Norway’s prime minister that, after being denied the Nobel Peace Prize, he no longer felt 'an obligation to think purely of Peace,' explicitly tying his Greenland stance and tariff threats to that grievance.
- Includes on‑the‑record reaction from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Davos urging allies to 'take a deep breath' and asserting U.S.–Europe relations remain strong despite the threats.
- Adds analyst commentary that the tariff threat is an 'overhang' on the Davos meeting but may prove more bark than bite as negotiations play out, and notes concurrent safe‑haven spikes in gold and silver prices.
1:45 PM
NORAD aircraft to arrive in Greenland for routine exercises
New information:
- NORAD announced that aircraft are deploying to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland for 'long‑planned' activities coordinated with Denmark and with the Government of Greenland 'informed' of the plans.
- NORAD specified that aircraft from bases in the U.S. and Canada will support the Greenland operations, which it framed as routine, sustained, dispersed NORAD activity across its three regions.
- Fox reports that on Saturday Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on 'multiple European countries' unless Denmark agrees to a 'complete and total purchase of Greenland,' explicitly tying new tariffs to his Greenland acquisition demand.
- Denmark has just ramped up its own military presence in Greenland, sending about 100 soldiers to Nuuk with more heading to Kangerlussuaq, and European allies have dispatched and in some cases withdrawn small contingents as symbolic shows of support for Danish sovereignty.
- The piece notes ongoing protests in Nuuk against Trump’s Greenland policy, alongside earlier European exercises and diplomatic condemnation of the U.S. acquisition push.
1:38 PM
Trump may face anger in Davos over Greenland as he remains defiant: "We have to have it"
New information:
- CBS reports from Davos that Trump, pressed on allied backlash, remains defiant about acquiring Greenland and says on camera, 'We have to have it.'
- The piece notes Trump may face explicit anger from NATO partners at the World Economic Forum over his Greenland takeover rhetoric.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson is simultaneously visiting the U.K. to try to calm British and European frustration over Trump’s Greenland push and latest tariff threats.
1:30 PM
House Democrat calls Trump 'extremely mentally ill' after Greenland remarks, urges 25th Amendment removal
New information:
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., posted on X that President Trump is 'extremely mentally ill' and urged his 'immediate' removal via the 25th Amendment, explicitly tying her call to Trump’s Greenland comments.
- Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., also publicly called for invoking the 25th Amendment in response to Trump’s Greenland-related letter.
- Fox reproduces Trump’s letter to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in which Trump says he will no longer feel obligated to think 'purely of Peace,' claims 'The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland,' and complains about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Norwegian Prime Minister Støre issued a statement reaffirming that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, backing Denmark’s position, and emphasizing that the Nobel Prize is decided by an independent committee, not his government.
12:09 PM
EU chief warns there's no going back after Trump's Greenland threats
New information:
- Ursula von der Leyen used a Davos keynote to say Europe must seek 'permanent' independence from the U.S., likening Trump’s Greenland threats to the 1971 'Nixon shock' and warning 'nostalgia will not bring back the old order.'
- She explicitly cautioned that the U.S.–EU trade deal reached last summer would be at risk if Washington pursues coercive moves on Greenland, and said the EU is weighing a €93 billion retaliatory tariff package using its anti‑coercion 'trade bazooka'.
- Von der Leyen said the EU is preparing a substantial investment package for Greenland and plans to tighten security ties in the Arctic with partners other than the U.S., naming the U.K., Canada, Norway and Iceland.
- She directly warned that Trump’s approach to Greenland is 'plunging us' into a downward spiral that benefits Russia and China, and rejected any hope that relations could quickly revert to the pre‑Trump status quo.
- Axios reports Trump overnight posted alleged private messages from NATO chief Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron about Greenland on Truth Social, further inflaming allied tensions ahead of his Davos arrival.
12:00 PM
Trump to head to Davos as Greenland dispute sparks rising tensions with NATO allies
New information:
- Confirms Trump will attend the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos and is scheduled to give a 'special address' on Wednesday, though the White House has not publicly detailed his program.
- Details Trump’s latest tariff threat: a 10% tariff on all goods from certain NATO members beginning Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June, explicitly tied to forcing a deal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
- Reports that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland issued a joint statement Sunday warning Trump’s tariff threats 'undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.'
- Quotes new text messages Trump sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, where he links being denied the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to feeling less obligated to 'think purely of Peace' and says he will focus on what is 'good and proper' for the U.S.
- Includes Trump’s latest argument that Denmark lacks a valid 'right of ownership' over Greenland because 'there are no written documents' and claims 'we had boats landing there, also.'
- Notes that Trump is again touting a proposed 'Golden Dome' strategic defense shield project centered on Greenland.
7:15 AM
Trump heads to Davos more aggressive and ambitious than ever
New information:
- Clarifies that the deadline Trump has privately set is Feb. 1 for a deal to transfer control of Greenland to the U.S., after which he is threatening escalating tariffs on Denmark and seven other NATO allies.
- Adds that European officials at Davos have 'shredded' their Ukraine scripts to focus on Greenland, with some panels joking grimly about a potential American invasion of the island.
- Reports that Trump is using memes on social media to claim Greenland and Canada and has leaked private text exchanges with the French president and NATO’s secretary general, inflaming tensions.
- Reveals that Norway’s government had expected Trump’s Nobel‑related text to be private and was surprised when it was placed on U.S. letterhead and circulated to NATO ambassadors.
1:09 AM
Denmark ramps up defenses in Greenland as Trump zeros in on control of territory
New information:
- Danish Armed Forces have deployed about 100 additional soldiers to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, with further troops to Kangerlussuaq, described by Danish TV2 as a 'substantial contribution'.
- Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen confirms the new deployments and says they follow prior Danish planning to strengthen Arctic defense, though they come directly after Trump’s latest Greenland comments.
- Trump’s Jan. 18 Truth Social post claims Denmark has 'been unable' to remove the 'Russian threat' from Greenland, declaring 'Now it is time, and it will be done!!!'.
- A text exchange released by Norway shows Trump telling Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that 'the world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland' and questioning Denmark’s right of ownership.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says European troop deployments 'do not impact' Trump’s goal of acquiring Greenland.
- The Danish defense minister says Denmark is increasing its military footprint in and around Greenland in cooperation with NATO allies and expects forces to remain for a year or more.
January 19, 2026
7:37 PM
Trump warns US can no longer think ‘purely of peace’ as he pushes for Greenland control
New information:
- The article provides the exact private language Trump used regarding Greenland — 'Complete and Total Control' and questioning Denmark’s ownership — which helps explain why eight European governments felt compelled to issue such a sharp public statement.
- It adds the detail that Norway’s prime minister directly rebuffed Trump in writing by reaffirming that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that Norway backs Denmark’s position, even while acknowledging NATO’s Arctic security concerns.
- Connects the European backlash more closely to Trump’s personal grievance over the Nobel Peace Prize, by tying his Greenland demands and tariff escalation to his complaint that Norway did not secure him the prize.
7:27 PM
European leaders warn of 'downward spiral' as Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland
New information:
- Confirms the joint statement comes specifically from the eight countries Trump targeted with tariffs, not just EU institutions in general.
- Clarifies that troops deployed to Greenland for the 'Arctic Endurance' Danish military training exercise are being defended by European governments as non‑threatening, countering White House framing.
- Adds that Costa is expected to convene an EU leaders’ summit later in the week specifically to discuss the tariff threat and broader transatlantic implications.
3:43 PM
White House urges 'cooler heads to prevail' as EU fires back on Trump tariffs over Greenland
New information:
- The article confirms Trump’s threatened 10% tariffs (potentially rising to 25% June 1) now explicitly target a long list of European allies beyond Denmark, including the UK, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.
- Top European leaders, including UK PM Keir Starmer and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, are on record calling the tariffs on allies 'completely wrong' and saying 'Europe won’t be blackmailed.'
- EU leaders issued a joint statement, reported by the BBC, warning that Trump’s Greenland‑linked tariffs could 'undermine transatlantic relations' and trigger a 'dangerous downward spiral.'
- EU officials are considering deploying their trade 'bazooka' – a retaliatory tariff package – in direct response to Trump’s proposed duties.
- The White House, via Kevin Hassett, is simultaneously signaling a desire to negotiate and 'disregard the rhetoric,' presenting the tariffs as an opening gambit in a broader Greenland bargaining strategy.
January 18, 2026
5:06 PM
Transcript: Rep. Mike Turner on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan"
New information:
- Turner, as head of the U.S. NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation, says flatly that the president has no legal authority to use U.S. military force to seize territory from a NATO country such as Denmark/Greenland.
- He warns that Trump’s rhetoric about taking Greenland by force is "problematic" and is already creating tension inside the alliance and among U.S. partners.
- Turner says a "monumental" Trump‑EU agreement to go to zero tariffs is now "at risk" because of the Greenland‑linked tariff escalation and that allies are threatening to blow up the trade deal.
- He stresses that America’s core principles remain democracy, self‑determination and respect for other nations’ sovereignty, implicitly contrasting them with Trump’s Greenland posture.
- He acknowledges U.S. national‑security interests in the Arctic and Greenland but argues people would prefer the president focus on the broader economy instead of this fight.
4:18 PM
Trump has not yet ‘shown his hand’ on Greenland as tariffs raise the stakes, foreign policy expert says
New information:
- Fox News foreign‑policy contributor Michael Pillsbury says Trump is in an early 'Art of the Deal' phase and 'hasn't really shown his hand' yet on Greenland.
- Pillsbury claims Trump is 'shaping the battlefield' for 'actual ownership' of Greenland or, at minimum, expanded U.S. military and radar installations there.
- He highlights Greenland’s 2009 self‑government law allowing an independence referendum and suggests Trump may hope for Greenlandic independence followed by a voluntary association with the U.S.
- Pillsbury frames Denmark’s 'harsh rhetoric' as complicating any campaign toward a referendum and closer U.S.–Greenland ties.
2:46 PM
European leaders warn Trump tariffs over Greenland 'risk a dangerous downward spiral'
New information:
- Eight countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the U.K. — issued a joint statement saying tariff threats over Greenland 'undermine transatlantic relations' and 'risk a dangerous downward spiral.'
- The statement expressly affirms 'full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland' and vows unity in defending their sovereignty.
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson publicly said allies would not be 'blackmailed' and stressed that only Denmark and Greenland decide on Greenland’s status, while Kaja Kallas warned Russia and China are 'having a field day' and that the dispute should instead be handled inside NATO.
2:19 PM
Europeans reeling from Trump threat to impose tariffs on 8 countries
New information:
- CBS report details that Trump’s 10% tariffs are explicitly framed as leverage to force talks with Denmark and other Europeans over 'American control of Greenland'.
- Article notes several European countries have deployed troops to Greenland for Arctic security training, adding a concrete military dimension to the standoff.
- EU envoys have scheduled emergency talks Sunday evening to coordinate a response and assess whether the U.S. move would impact the entire EU single market.
- The story highlights legal uncertainty over Trump’s domestic authority to impose the tariffs, referencing possible reliance on emergency economic powers currently under Supreme Court challenge.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas publicly warns China and Russia will benefit from the U.S.–Europe rift and says any security concerns about Greenland should be addressed within NATO.
- CBS cites its own poll showing 70% of Americans oppose using federal funds to buy Greenland and 86% oppose seizing it militarily, undercutting Trump’s political footing at home.
- Sen. Mark Kelly posts that European troops are arriving in Greenland 'to defend the territory from us' and warns Trump’s actions are making the U.S. less safe and more isolated.
12:37 PM
In their words: European governments criticize Trump's tariff threats over Greenland
New information:
- Provides detailed, on‑the‑record reactions from all eight targeted governments — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland — explicitly condemning Trump’s 10% tariffs tied to opposition to U.S. control of Greenland.
- Confirms that European deployments of small troop contingents to Greenland were undertaken in response to Trump’s own calls for strengthened Arctic security, undercutting the notion they were provocations.
- Documents that several leaders (Macron, Starmer, Støre, Kristersson, Stubb, van Weel) frame the U.S. tariffs as "blackmail," "threats," "unacceptable" among allies and insist Greenland’s status is solely for Greenlanders and Danes to decide.
- Adds that it remains unclear whether Trump’s country‑specific tariffs would also affect EU‑level trade as a bloc, a point European governments are now weighing.
- Shows that Germany is coordinating closely with European partners on a potential joint response but has not yet announced specific countermeasures.
10:21 AM
Europeans reeling as Trump imposes tariffs on 8 countries over Greenland dispute
New information:
- Article details European political reaction, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning tariffs risk a 'dangerous downward spiral' and saying China and Russia will benefit from U.S.–Europe divisions.
- Reports that EU envoys scheduled emergency talks Sunday evening to coordinate a potential response and that EU leaders António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement pledging full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.
- Adds that multiple European countries have recently sent troops to Greenland, publicly described as Arctic security training, as Trump pushes for American control of the territory.
- Provides prominent U.S. domestic criticism from Sen. Mark Kelly, who said the tariffs would make Americans 'pay more to try to get territory we don’t need' and warned that European troops arriving in Greenland 'to defend the territory from us' show growing damage to U.S. reputation.
- Notes legal uncertainty over how the White House could implement tariffs on individual EU members given the EU’s single‑market structure and the fact that Trump would likely rely on emergency economic powers currently under Supreme Court challenge.
1:41 AM
Trump announces new tariffs on 8 European countries who oppose his Greenland plan
New information:
- CBS clip explicitly frames the new 10% tariffs as targeting 'eight European countries who oppose his plan to put Greenland under U.S. control,' reinforcing that the tariffs are retaliation for opposition to U.S. control, not just generic trade leverage.
- It notes the timing of Trump’s tariff announcement coming after a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers flew to Denmark to voice support for keeping Greenland under Danish control, underscoring domestic political pushback within the U.S. on Trump’s Greenland push.
January 17, 2026
11:16 PM
Protests explode in Greenland amid Trump takeover push: 'We are not interested in being Americans'
New information:
- On-the-ground description that thousands of protesters in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, marched toward the U.S. consulate led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chanting 'Kalaallit Nunaat' and 'not for sale.'
- Protester quotes underscoring sentiment, including 'We are not interested in being Americans' and 'Greenland is not for sale. It is not a toy. This is our home.'
- Visual and symbolic details from the protests, including red hats mimicking MAGA caps but reading 'Make America Go Away.'
- Additional European reaction quotes, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron’s X post vowing Europe would not be 'blackmailed' and that tariff threats are 'unacceptable,' and the Dutch prime minister’s comment tying military exercises in Greenland to Arctic security.
9:50 PM
Thousands march in Greenland against Trump's threats to take over the Arctic island
New information:
- Thousands of Greenlanders marched in Nuuk from the small downtown to the U.S. Consulate, with organizers and police describing it as possibly the island’s largest protest and nearly a quarter of Nuuk’s population participating.
- Protesters chanted 'Greenland is not for sale,' carried signs, and listened to traditional songs; Greenland Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen joined the march.
- Simultaneous rallies and solidarity marches took place in Copenhagen and in Nunavut, Canada, with Danish protesters framing the issue as about small countries not being 'for sale.'
- The protest in Nuuk reached the U.S. consulate just as news broke that Trump, from Florida, had announced the 10% import tax on eight European countries because of their opposition to U.S. control of Greenland.
- Former Greenland MP Tillie Martinussen said the U.S. shifted from presenting itself as a friend wanting to help Greenland to 'plain out threatening us,' and protesters explicitly tied their cause to preserving both Greenlandic autonomy and NATO.
9:29 PM
Trump threatens tariffs on European allies to force Greenland sale
New information:
- Clarifies that Trump framed the tariffs as remaining in place 'until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,' reinforcing that the measures are explicitly contingent on territorial acquisition.
- Reports on a new, sharp reaction from French President Emmanuel Macron, who called Trump’s Greenland pressure campaign 'unacceptable' and likened the effort to Russia’s attempts to seize Ukraine.
- Adds on-the-record congressional GOP criticism, quoting Sen. Thom Tillis calling tariffs on European allies 'bad for America' and blasting a 'small handful of advisors' who are pushing coercive action to seize allied territory.
- Reiterates that the White House has not ruled out military action to acquire Greenland, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is trying to downplay that possibility, underscoring internal messaging gaps.
- Notes that a bipartisan congressional delegation has just traveled to Denmark to assure leaders there that there is no congressional support for military action to seize Greenland, signaling growing institutional pushback.
6:15 PM
Trump announces tariffs on 8 NATO allies in latest push to acquire Greenland
New information:
- Axios frames the tariffs explicitly as Trump’s 'latest push' to acquire Greenland, emphasizing the linkage between the tariff threat and his broader Greenland strategy.
- Additional political and diplomatic color on how European and NATO capitals are reading the move (as reported by Axios), including concern that Trump is normalizing the idea of using economic coercion against allies to force territorial concessions.
- Axios highlights internal White House thinking that the tariffs are meant to increase leverage on Denmark and signal to domestic supporters that Trump is willing to confront allies over Greenland, even at economic cost.
5:47 PM
Trump announces a 10% tariff on 8 European countries for opposing U.S. control of Greenland
New information:
- Trump’s move is now a formal announcement: a 10% import tax on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland starting in February, rising to 25% on June 1 if the U.S. does not secure 'the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.'
- Hundreds of Greenlanders marched in Nuuk in near‑freezing rain with slogans such as 'Greenland is not for sale' and 'We shape our future,' joined by parallel rallies elsewhere in the Danish kingdom.
- A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Sen. Chris Coons met Danish officials in Copenhagen, explicitly trying to 'de‑escalate' and reassure them that Congress and 'the American people' still value the alliance.
- Danish Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, head of Joint Arctic Command, publicly stated he does not expect any NATO state to attack another NATO ally and described recent European troop deployments and an Arctic training exercise in Nuuk as standard alliance training, not a signal to Washington.
- Andersen said that in 2½ years commanding in Greenland he has seen no Chinese or Russian warships off Greenland, contradicting Trump’s rhetoric, and noted the U.S. was invited to join upcoming Operation Arctic Endurance drills in Greenland alongside other NATO forces.
5:22 PM
Trump says 8 EU countries to be charged 10% tariff for opposing US control of Greenland
New information:
- Article explicitly ties the tariff threat to recent visits to Greenland by British, Dutch and Finnish representatives and what Trump calls 'general opposition' to his purchase push.
- It notes hundreds of Greenlanders and thousands across the Danish kingdom marched in rallies with slogans like 'Greenland is not for sale' and 'Greenland is already GREAT,' signaling domestic opposition.
- A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation in Copenhagen, led in part by Sen. Chris Coons, tried to reassure Denmark and Greenland, with Coons publicly calling for de‑escalation and continued trust in the American people.
- Danish Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen says Denmark does not expect a U.S. military attack on Greenland and describes recent European troop deployments there as Arctic defense training, not a signal to Washington.
- The article stresses it is unclear what U.S. legal authority Trump would invoke to impose these tariffs, noting he may try to rely on economic emergency powers that are already under Supreme Court challenge.
4:52 PM
Trump to Hit European Nations With Tariffs Until Deal Reached to Buy Greenland
New information:
- Confirms the initial tariff threat via a specific social‑media post by Trump, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- Reiterates that the tariffs would apply to all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland.
- Restates the precise schedule: 10% tariffs beginning Feb. 1, rising to 25% on June 1, remaining until a deal is reached for the 'complete and total purchase' of Greenland.
4:51 PM
Trump announces escalating tariffs on Denmark and other European nations to force Greenland purchase deal
New information:
- Trump’s latest announcement came via a lengthy Truth Social post on Saturday rather than a formal speech or order.
- He framed the tariffs as a response to the U.S. having 'subsidized' Denmark and other EU nations for decades by not charging tariffs and providing 'maximum protection.'
- He explicitly warned that 'global security' and U.S. 'national defense' were at stake if the U.S. does not achieve a 'complete and total purchase of Greenland.'
4:39 PM
Trump says he will impose tariffs on countries that oppose Greenland plan
New information:
- Trump now says he will impose 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland beginning Feb. 1, 2026 because they have sent military forces into Greenland.
- He states the tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1, 2026.
- Trump explicitly conditions lifting the tariffs on reaching a "Complete and Total purchase of Greenland," tying the new trade measures directly to his annexation objective.
- He frames the move on Truth Social as necessary "in order to protect Global Peace and Security" and to end what he calls a "potentially perilous situation."
2:03 PM
Lawmakers says Greenland should be viewed as U.S. ally, "not as an asset"
New information:
- A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation traveled to Copenhagen to reassure Denmark and Greenland after Trump threatened tariffs on countries that do not support a U.S. takeover of Greenland.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Greenland should be viewed as a U.S. ally, "not as an asset," while Sen. Chris Coons urged de‑escalation and warned that undermining Denmark’s trust could ripple across NATO.
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, speaking in Denmark, said Trump’s annexation talk "undermines NATO at a time when our adversaries seek to benefit from division."
- Greenlandic PM Jens‑Frederik Nielsen publicly reaffirmed, "we choose Denmark," and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen reiterated that a U.S. takeover would essentially mean the end of NATO.
- Thousands marched in Copenhagen, with 'Hands Off' and 'Make America Smart Again' signs and Greenlandic flags, and parallel rallies were planned in Nuuk and elsewhere in the Danish kingdom.
11:00 AM
NATO ambassador says Europe 'has a tendency to overreact' over Greenland dispute
New information:
- U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker publicly argues that Arctic and Greenland security are 'the most important issue' for U.S. defense as melting ice opens new sea routes.
- Whitaker says 'Europe sometimes has a tendency to overreact anytime that an issue is put out on the table,' directly pushing back on European backlash to Washington’s Greenland focus and new French‑Danish exercises.
- He frames Greenland as the 'northern flank of the continental United States' and central to naval access, monitoring and fortification, and cites a 'very successful' recent meeting between Denmark, Greenland, Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio as evidence the dispute can be handled constructively.
- Whitaker uses Reagan’s 'peace through strength' doctrine to press NATO allies to deregulate, find more capital and increase defense capability, saying some allies remain well short of what is needed.
10:00 AM
Allies seek off-ramps as Trump doubles down on Greenland
New information:
- Confirms that inside Washington and allied capitals, lawmakers, advisers and diplomats are actively looking for 'off‑ramps' — alternative arrangements such as enhanced commercial deals or a compact of free association — to steer Trump away from outright territorial acquisition.
- Reports that in a high‑profile Washington meeting, Greenland and Denmark’s foreign ministers met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Danish FM Lars Løkke Rasmussen later described a 'fundamental disagreement' over Greenland’s right to self‑determination.
- Details a messaging split: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the U.S. would 'continue to have technical talks on the acquisition of Greenland,' while Rasmussen framed the outcome as a 'high‑level working group' to explore ways to address U.S. security concerns, not a sale.
- Adds that Trump has said owning Greenland is 'psychologically needed for success' and, on Friday, threatened tariffs on countries that don’t back U.S. control, heightening ally fears his national‑security rationale masks a resource‑ and data‑center‑driven agenda pushed by Silicon Valley allies.
- Quotes former Danish official Jonas Parello‑Plesner warning of a 'long‑term scenario based on economic coercion,' including tech billionaires hypothetically paying Greenlanders for an 'illegal referendum,' and reports diplomatic speculation that Musk‑ or Thiel‑aligned interests see the island as mineral and data‑center real estate.
January 16, 2026
11:50 PM
News Wrap: Trump threatens tariffs for countries not supporting his Greenland takeover
New information:
- PBS reports Trump has now explicitly said he may impose tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland takeover, hardening the economic threat.
- The threat is framed as part of his ramped-up rhetoric about 'taking over' Greenland, not just acquiring it through normal diplomatic channels.
6:42 PM
Trump considers punishing countries with tariffs if they don't back U.S. takeover of Greenland
New information:
- At a White House rural health event, Trump said he 'may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland,' explicitly tying new tariff threats to support for a U.S. takeover.
- A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Sen. Chris Coons and including Sen. Lisa Murkowski met in Copenhagen with Danish and Greenlandic lawmakers and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen to try to lower tensions.
- Murkowski publicly stated 'Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset,' and Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz said the main threats she sees now are 'from the U.S. side,' accusing Washington of exaggerating external threats to Greenland.
5:56 PM
Trump threatens tariff hike on countries opposing his Greenland plans
New information:
- Trump, at a rural health-care roundtable in Washington, said he 'may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland' because 'we need Greenland for national security,' immediately after discussing 25% tariffs.
- The article details that Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers had requested and held a meeting two days earlier with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to 'take down the temperature' over U.S. acquisition rhetoric.
- Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is quoted calling the idea that the U.S. would not respect Denmark’s territorial integrity 'totally unacceptable,' and reiterating that U.S. acquisition of Greenland 'is not an option.'
5:42 PM
European troops arrive in Greenland as Trump targets allies with new tariff threats
New information:
- NBC‑cited details that the deployment includes personnel from France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with France pledging additional 'land, air and sea assets' in coming days.
- Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen says the goal is a more permanent military presence on Greenland with a larger Danish contribution and rotating contingents from several NATO countries.
- Trump told reporters he may 'put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security,' directly tying potential trade penalties to allied resistance.
- Sen. Mark Warner, Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, publicly characterized the situation as 'unbelievable' and said, 'Trump has turned our allies against us.'
- Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller’s earlier assertion that 'Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland' is contrasted with the actual European military response.
1:56 PM
NATO troops heading to Greenland amid Trump's threats
New information:
- CBS reports that Denmark has already sent soldiers to Greenland and that they will be joined by additional military units from various NATO allies.
- A U.S. Senate delegation is meeting with Danish officials on Friday specifically to defuse the standoff between President Trump and Denmark over Greenland.
12:28 PM
U.S. lawmakers seek to reassure Denmark amid White House push for Greenland
New information:
- A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is in Denmark and Greenland specifically to reassure officials about U.S. support for Greenland’s territorial integrity despite Trump’s acquisition push.
- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen publicly rejected the White House’s characterization of recent talks as 'technical talks on the acquisition of Greenland' and warned any future meetings framed that way would be 'very, very short.'
- U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry told Fox News he believes a deal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland is achievable and plans a visit in March, saying 'the president is serious' about acquisition.
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, speaking at the University of Copenhagen, said 'millions of Americans are deeply concerned' about rhetoric on buying or seizing Greenland and warned it undermines NATO and benefits Vladimir Putin.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the deployment of European troops to Greenland as part of Operation Arctic Endurance does not affect Trump’s goal of acquiring the island.
7:44 AM
Trump’s push to acquire Greenland sparks international media frenzy on remote island
New information:
- Quinnipiac University polling shows 86% of U.S. voters oppose using military force to take over Greenland, and 55%–37% oppose efforts to buy it.
- Trump posted on social media Wednesday that 'anything less' than U.S. control of Greenland is 'unacceptable,' sharpening his public stance.
- Greenland Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen reiterated that Greenland 'will not be owned or governed by the United States.'
- Local Greenlanders quoted by AP say they are exhausted by constant foreign media attention and view Trump as obsessed with the island’s 'oils and minerals,' accusing him of hiding resource ambitions behind national‑security rhetoric.
January 15, 2026
11:45 PM
News Wrap: U.S. places new sanctions on several Iranian officials
New information:
- European troops are arriving in Greenland after talks failed to make progress on President Trump’s push to take over the territory.
- The troop arrivals are framed as a follow‑on development to those failed talks, not just exercises, signaling a hardening posture in response to U.S. pressure.
9:52 PM
Europe Deploys Troops to Greenland in Message to Trump
New information:
- Confirms that French, Swedish and German units have physically deployed to Greenland itself, not just the wider Arctic region: 15 French mountain infantry boarding transport labeled 'Greenland Excursions,' Swedish troops flown in on a Danish C-130, and a 13-person German Army reconnaissance team sent on a two-day deployment.
- Reports that European officials describe the deployments as intended 'to deter a U.S. invasion' and to show Greenland will not be 'easy prey' for Washington.
- Frames this as a NATO first: European members sending troops to a friendly territory primarily to dissuade their largest ally, the United States, from taking military action there.
9:14 PM
NATO allies launch Arctic drills as Trump eyes Greenland
New information:
- Danish Armed Forces say European nations began mobilizing forces for joint ‘exercise activity’ in Greenland on Wednesday, with a stated goal of training in 'unique Arctic conditions' and strengthening NATO’s footprint.
- Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, the U.K. and the Netherlands are specifically named as boosting their military presence, with Germany describing its role as exploratory and focused on keeping transportation and trade routes free.
- Trump wrote on Truth Social that NATO 'shouldn’t stand in the way' of the U.S. taking control of Greenland and argued NATO becomes 'far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States.'
- Experts quoted explain NATO’s Article 5 and Article 1 obligations and underscore there is no mechanism to expel or suspend a member that attacks another member, meaning responses to a hypothetical U.S. move would be politically, not legally, constrained.
7:52 PM
European troops arrive in Greenland as talks with U.S. highlight 'disagreement' over island's future
New information:
- Denmark has announced a move toward a more permanent military presence in Greenland, with a larger Danish contribution and rotational troops from several NATO allies.
- France has already deployed about 15 mountain infantry soldiers to Nuuk for exercises, with President Emmanuel Macron saying 'the first French military elements are already en route' and more will follow.
- Germany is sending a 13‑person reconnaissance team to Greenland, and other European partners including the U.K., Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands are also sending small contingents.
- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, alongside Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, said after White House talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that a 'fundamental disagreement' remains with President Trump over Greenland’s future and that Trump 'has this wish of conquering over Greenland.'
- Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen publicly stated that 'Greenland is not for sale' and 'does not want to be owned by the United States' or 'be part of the United States,' underscoring local rejection of U.S. annexation.
4:23 PM
Russia calls NATO "unpredictable" amid divide over Greenland
New information:
- Russia’s embassy in Belgium issued a formal statement accusing NATO of 'accelerated militarization' of the Arctic under a 'fictitious pretext' of threats from Moscow and Beijing and calling the alliance’s course 'counterproductive and extremely dangerous.'
- The Russian statement explicitly links NATO’s 'growing militaristic spirit' and 'unpredictability' to disagreements within the alliance over President Trump’s push to make Greenland part of the United States.
- Top Trump administration officials held a Washington meeting with Danish and Greenlandic officials in which Denmark’s foreign minister said there remain 'fundamental' differences with the U.S. over Greenland’s future, though they agreed to continue talks via a high‑level working group.
- Denmark’s defense ministry, together with Greenland’s government, publicly announced expanded Arctic exercise activity in Greenland with NATO allies to strengthen the alliance’s footprint and train in 'unique Arctic conditions.'
- Trump publicly mocked Denmark’s stepped‑up Greenland defense in a social‑media post, saying 'Two dogsleds won't do it! Only the USA can!!!', while Denmark says it has invested nearly $14 billion in Arctic security.
- Danish Parliament Foreign Policy Committee vice‑chair Lars‑Christian Brask told CBS the Washington talks were positive despite the lack of resolution and dismissed Moscow’s line, urging people not to 'listen to Russian propaganda.'
3:52 PM
Troops from Europe deploy to Greenland in rapid 2-day mission as Trump eyes US takeover
New information:
- Fox/Reuters detail that France, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Britain have sent small teams to Greenland for a two‑day rapid‑deployment mission: Germany 13 personnel, France 15 mountain specialists, Sweden 3 officers, Norway 2, Britain 1.
- Danish Ministry of Defense statement specifies that the expanded presence in and around Greenland is part of Danish Armed Forces exercise activity, dubbed Operation Arctic Endurance, in close cooperation with NATO allies, aimed at operating in unique Arctic conditions and strengthening the alliance’s Arctic footprint.
- The ministry outlines potential 2026 exercise activities: guarding critical infrastructure, assisting Greenlandic authorities including police, receiving allied troops, deploying fighter aircraft in and around Greenland, and conducting naval operations.
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirms on X that Swedish officers are deploying at Denmark’s request as part of the Operation Arctic Endurance framework.
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen tells Reuters that "the American ambition to take over Greenland is intact" and says Copenhagen is continuing efforts to prevent that scenario.
10:26 AM
European troops arrive in Greenland to boost the Arctic island's security
New information:
- French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 'the first French military elements are already en route' to Greenland, with authorities saying about 15 French mountain infantry soldiers are already in Nuuk for exercises.
- Germany will deploy a 13‑person reconnaissance team to Greenland on Thursday, and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen says the goal is to 'establish a more permanent military presence' with a larger Danish contribution and rotational troops from several NATO countries.
- Danish and Greenlandic ministers confirmed after White House talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that a 'fundamental disagreement' over Greenland remains and that Trump 'has this wish of conquering over Greenland,' while Trump told reporters, 'If we don't go in, Russia is going to go in and China is going to go in.'
- Residents in Nuuk told AP they see the added European troop presence as protection against possible U.S. military action and view the dispute as being driven by interest in Greenland’s untapped oil and mineral resources rather than true 'national security' concerns.
January 14, 2026
11:57 PM
WATCH: Trump won't say what he is 'willing to do' to take control of Greenland
New information:
- In an Oval Office exchange with PBS on Jan. 14, Trump said he "won't say" what he is "willing to do" to take control of Greenland, explicitly declining to rule out options, including leaving NATO.
- Trump asserted that "there's not a thing that Denmark can do" if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but "there's everything we can do," framing U.S. control as essential to both U.S. and Danish security.
- He reiterated that Greenland is "very important for national security" and said he "can't rely on Denmark" to fend off global threats, while adding he has a "very good relationship" with Denmark and predicting "something will work out."
- The PBS piece confirms the timing and context: Trump’s comments came the same day Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and agreed only to form a working group amid what Denmark called a "fundamental disagreement."
7:57 PM
Denmark says there's a 'fundamental disagreement' with Trump over Greenland
New information:
- After a roughly one‑hour Washington meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said a 'fundamental disagreement' with President Trump over Greenland remains, but the sides agreed to create a working group to address U.S. security concerns while respecting Denmark’s 'red lines.'
- Trump reiterated hours before the meeting on Truth Social that the U.S. 'needs Greenland' for national security, that 'NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,' and that 'anything less' than U.S. control is 'unacceptable.'
- Greenland’s representatives to the U.S. and Canada publicly responded, 'Why don't you ask us?' and pointed to polling showing low support among Greenlanders for becoming part of the United States.
- In Copenhagen, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced an increase in Denmark’s 'military presence and exercise activity' in the Arctic and North Atlantic, including more aircraft, ships and soldiers in and around Greenland and participation by unnamed NATO allies under Operation Arctic Endurance.
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that Swedish officers are arriving in Greenland as part of a multinational allied group, and Norway said it is sending personnel to map further cooperation, signaling broader NATO involvement in Arctic exercises centered on Greenland.
3:46 PM
Trump issues stern warning to NATO ahead of Vance's high-stakes Greenland meeting
New information:
- Trump’s new Truth Social posts say the U.S. 'needs Greenland for the purpose of national security' and call U.S. acquisition 'vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,' describing it as an Iron Dome–style missile-defense system for the American homeland.
- Trump publicly urges NATO to 'lead the way' in helping the U.S. obtain Greenland, saying 'NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES' and calls 'anything less than that' unacceptable.
- He cites a Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) report warning about Russian and Chinese military ambitions and submarine/surface-vessel expansion around Greenland and the Arctic, using it to justify his push.
- Trump reacts to Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s statement that Greenland would choose Denmark, NATO and the EU over the U.S. by saying he doesn’t know Nielsen and that position will be 'a big problem for him.'
- The article confirms a same-day White House meeting where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt about Greenland.
2:33 AM
Greenland's prime minister says "we choose Denmark" over the U.S.
New information:
- Direct quote from Trump on Sunday: 'If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen' and 'one way or the other, we're going to have Greenland,' sharpening his earlier rhetoric.
- Nielsen’s expanded language that Greenland 'does not want to be owned,' 'governed' or 'be part of the United States,' framing this as categorical rejection of any U.S. takeover, not just a land sale.
- Frederiksen’s charge that Denmark has faced 'completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally,' underscoring diplomatic strain with a long‑time NATO partner.
- On‑the‑record opposition from key U.S. lawmakers: Sen. Tim Kaine saying any military action in Greenland would be 'disastrous' and predicting Congress would stop it; Sen. Rand Paul vowing to 'do everything' to block a military takeover (while not objecting to a purchase).
- Detail that the Senate just advanced a war‑powers resolution limiting further Venezuela strikes, with five Republicans joining Democrats — a clear signal of limited appetite for authorizing force in Greenland — and that Rep. Reuben Gallego plans a measure 'to block Trump from invading Greenland.'
- A bipartisan House bill introduced Monday would bar funding for unauthorized U.S. military action against NATO allies or their territories, with sponsor Rep. Don Bacon explicitly citing Greenland and warning 'These are our allies. You don't treat your allies this way.'
January 13, 2026
6:02 PM
Greenland’s leader says before White House meeting that the island would choose Denmark over the U.S.
New information:
- Greenland Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen stated that if forced to choose between the United States and Denmark "here and now," Greenland would choose Denmark, NATO, the Danish Kingdom, and the European Union.
- Nielsen explicitly said, "Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States."
- Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pledged that Denmark and Greenland will act in lockstep at the White House talks, saying, "We come together, we stay together, and we leave together."
- The article specifies that foreign ministers from Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. will meet Wednesday at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The piece reiterates Trump’s vow to take over Greenland "whether they like it or not" as the backdrop for these statements.
January 07, 2026
8:16 PM
From Caracas to Nuuk: Maduro raid sparks fresh Trump push on Greenland
New information:
- Trump offered new public comments from Air Force One saying he wants to focus questions on Venezuela, Russia or Ukraine but that “we’ll worry about Greenland in about two months,” suggesting sequencing of foreign‑policy priorities after the Maduro raid.
- He characterized Greenland as “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” describing an urgent strategic threat environment around the island.
- He argued that Denmark “is not going to be able” to meet the territory’s security needs and asserted that both the U.S. and the EU would be safer if the U.S. acquired Greenland.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump sees Greenland acquisition as a national‑security priority and confirmed the administration is still contemplating use of the U.S. military as one option in how to obtain the territory.
- The article recounts specific historical and technical context — Pituffik Space Base’s role as an early‑warning radar site and Greenland’s position along the shortest routes for long‑range threats from Russia and China — to support the administration’s security framing.
4:50 PM
Watch Live: White House announces new dietary guidelines for U.S.
New information:
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that officials are discussing a "wide range of options" for acquiring Greenland, explicitly including use of the U.S. military.
- The article reiterates that options under discussion include purchasing Greenland from Denmark or forming a compact of free association, alongside potential military acquisition.
- Places the Greenland discussion in the context of the same week’s White House briefings, underscoring it as an active rather than hypothetical topic.
4:37 PM
US military action in Venezuela is seen as both a blessing and a curse for Russia's Putin
New information:
- Highlights how Trump’s interest in "wresting control" of Greenland from Denmark is seen by analysts as another destabilizing move for NATO at a pivotal moment in Ukraine peace talks.
- Presents the Greenland discussions from the vantage point of Russian strategic calculations: as a distraction for the alliance that Moscow can exploit rhetorically.