President Trump told European leaders on Wednesday that no nation can defend Greenland the way the U.S. can, using a pointed reference to World War II to underscore his point.
“Without us, you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese, perhaps,” Mr. Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr. Trump said Denmark, which controls Greenland, was unable to defend itself from Nazi Germany’s attack in the 1940s.
“After just six hours of fighting, it was totally unable to defend itself and Greenland,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump said the U.S. got involved to win that war, and that history is repeating itself.
He said Greenland is sitting, undefended, in a key location between the U.S. and adversaries such as Russia and China.
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“I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States,” Mr. Trump said.
His plans to annex Greenland are causing massive tension with European leaders at the Davos forum.
French President Emmanuel Macron and others are scrambling to devise a coordinated response, especially as Mr. Trump threatens tariffs on nations standing in his way.
“I was gonna leave it out of the speech,” Mr. Trump quipped.
“I have tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark,” he said. “The fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to secure Greenland other than the United States.”
Mr. Trump repeatedly characterized his pursuit as a course correction from the post-World War II period, saying the U.S. effectively returned Greenland to European control after defeating the Axis powers.
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The U.S. occupied Greenland following the war and made agreements with Denmark to maintain a military presence, namely through its Pituffik Space Base.
“We gave it back to them,” Mr. Trump said, adding that ownership is paramount.
“You can’t defend it on a lease,” Mr. Trump said. “Psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement?”
Mr. Trump said he also wants Greenland so the U.S. can build an Iron Dome project that repels missiles from foreign enemies.
“We’re going to build a dome like no other,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump’s push to acquire Greenland is sparking pushback from congressional lawmakers. Some Republicans worry it will upset the NATO alliance, while some Democrats say it is a distraction from domestic problems.
“No, Mr. President, we don’t ‘have to have’ a distant territory that already belongs to Denmark. What the American people ACTUALLY need is health care, food and groceries, and affordable housing,” Rep. Robert Garcia, California Democrat, said on X. “These threats to acquire Greenland are deranged and must end.”
