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Trump Greenland Push About 'Stronger NATO, Stronger Europe,' Says State Dept. Spokesperson
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January 21, 2026
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9:23Now PlayingTommy Pigott, deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said that the US push for control of Greenland is about stronger national security partnership for both the US and NATO.
Earlier today President Trump called out NATO allies over control of Greenland, saying that the US is the only country who can protect Greenland and telling Denmark about negotiations, 'you can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember.' Pigott also discussed the status of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying that it is up to 'both sides' to come to an agreement on a settlement.
President Donald Trump upped the pressure on Europe to cede control of Greenland or face the consequences, saying that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization owes it to the US to grant it full rights to the Arctic island.
In a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday after prompting days of transatlantic tensions over his plans, Trump said that he was seeking “immediate negotiations” on acquiring the sovereign Danish territory for national security reasons.
The president ruled out the use of military force, but he insinuated that he would weigh Europe’s response to his demands when considering the US’s commitment to NATO going forward.
“We will not enter into any negotiations on the basis of giving up fundamental principles,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in Copenhagen. “That is something we will never do.” It “goes without saying” that Danes clearly reject ceding Greenland to the US, he added.
Trump, asked later Wednesday about Rasmussen’s remarks, said that he wanted to hear from Denmark in person.
“If he wants to tell me, he’ll tell me that to my face,” Trump said during a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte. Trump said he would discuss the issue with Rutte, who he saw as “frankly more important” than Danish officials.
President Donald Trump said he would refrain from imposing tariffs on goods from European nations opposing his effort to take possession of Greenland, citing a “framework of a future deal” he said was reached regarding the island.
The decision, which Trump announced Wednesday on social media, marks a stark reversal for a president who has repeatedly attempted to coerce Europe over Greenland. It came after a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Still, Trump did not detail the parameters of the so-called “framework” and it was unclear what the agreement entails, especially since Denmark earlier Wednesday ruled out negotiations over ceding the semi-autonomous island to the US.
“We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump posted. “This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
US stocks jumped on the news that tariffs wouldn’t be implemented, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rallying to session highs. Treasuries extended gains, and the Bloomberg Dollar Index rose to a daily high.
Trump told reporters after his post that he would release the specifics of the agreement shortly. He declined to answer when asked if it grants US ownership of Greenland, saying “it’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal, and I think it puts everybody in a real good position.” He said it would last for an “infinite” period of time.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump said he had not spoken directly with officials in Denmark about his “concepts of a plan” for Greenland, but added that he assumed Rutte had briefed leaders there. He also said the US would be “involved” in Greenland’s mineral rights, without elaborating.
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