Davos 2026: Donald Trump slams 'misguided' Europe, renews US claim on Greenland

Davos (Switzerland): US President Donald Trump said in an economic speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday that Europe is going in the wrong direction. The speech reflected the strain in transatlantic relations and his attempt to buy Greenland. Speaking at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, Trump said, "I love Europe, and I want Europe to do well, but it's not going in the right direction."

A senior White House official told reporters en route to the Swiss mountain resort that Trump would use the speech to discuss his "America First" economic policies, but that he might also touch on Greenland and Venezuela. The official added that he would speak more about foreign policy on Thursday.

What did Donald Trump say?

Earlier, Trump said at a press conference on Tuesday that he would be discussing Greenland, a Danish territory, at the Davos meeting and that he hoped a deal would eventually be reached. He said, "I think we'll do something that NATO will be very happy with, and we'll be very happy with. But we need it for security reasons. We need it for national security."

What did Donald Trump say on Greenland issue?

US President Donald Trump made it clear at the World Economic Forum that the United States wants Greenland at all costs. Describing Greenland as a beautiful piece of ice, Trump said the US needs it for global security. In Davos, Trump argued that "no country or group of countries other than the United States is in a position to secure Greenland."

Referring to past US leadership, Trump said, "We were fools to defend Greenland from Germany and then give it back to Denmark."

He called Denmark ungrateful. Trump said that Denmark surrendered to Germany after only six hours of fighting and was unable to defend itself or Greenland.

"So the US was forced to intervene, and we did," he said.

"What a stupid thing we did," he continued. "But we did it, and then we gave it back. And now look how ungrateful they are?"

What message did Donald Trump give to Denmark?

"Every NATO ally has a responsibility to defend its own territory. We are a great power, far greater than people understand. You saw our power just a few days ago in Venezuela," Trump said.

Trump called Denmark "ungrateful" for refusing to relinquish control of Greenland, and claimed the country owed the US a debt of gratitude for defending it during World War II.

"Denmark surrendered to Germany after only six hours of fighting and couldn't defend itself or Greenland. So the U.S. was forced to, and we did," he said, expressing regret over the U.S. decision at the time to allow Denmark to retain Greenland as a territory.