Trump heads to Davos amid Greenland dispute, tariff threats
President Donald Trump left Florida overnight following the national football championship and is now turning his attention to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump left Florida overnight following the national football championship and is now turning his attention to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
At the forum, the president is expected to face European leaders who have been angered by his push to take control of Greenland, along with tariff threats against eight countries — including close U.S. allies — that stand in his way.
“I don’t think they’re going to push back too much,” Trump said. “Look, we have to have it. They have to have this done. They can’t protect it.”
The president’s comments follow a revelation from Norway’s prime minister, who said he reached out to Trump about Greenland. According to the Norwegian leader, Trump responded in part by saying, “Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace.”
Norway’s prime minister noted that the Nobel Committee — not the Norwegian government — selects the prize winners. President Trump rejected that explanation.
“If anybody thinks that Norway doesn’t control the Nobel Prize, they’re just kidding,” Trump said, while adding that he does not care about the prize.
The president declined to answer when NBC News asked whether he would take Greenland by force.
Some Republican allies downplayed the idea of military action. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he does not foresee U.S. military intervention in Greenland, adding that diplomacy is the preferred path.
“I don’t foresee military intervention in Greenland. It’s a small population of people, and I think diplomatic channels is the way to go,” Johnson said.
President Trump maintains the United States needs to own Greenland to guard against what he sees as threats from Russia and China.
The developments come amid the growing risk of a new trade war with close U.S. allies.
