Addressing the World Economic Forum in Zurich, Switzerland, Trump said he no longer recognizes today’s Europe. “I love Europe, and I want to see it prosper, but it is not moving in the right direction,” he said.
Trump added that he did not wish to offend anyone but noted that when his friends return from Europe, they tell him they no longer recognize the continent as it once was.
Speaking to global leaders, the US president also highlighted large-scale migration, record budget deficits, and trade imbalances, describing them as serious challenges facing Europe.
In Greenland, Trump said he wanted immediate negotiations for its acquisition. He reminded the audience that US presidents have been attempting to purchase Greenland for nearly two centuries, arguing that the issue is not new.
He claimed Denmark has no effective presence in Greenland and is not spending as much on the territory as it had promised. According to Trump, only the United States can secure, develop, and improve the vast landmass, which he repeatedly referred to as a “large piece of ice.”
Trump said this was the reason he was pressing for urgent talks on acquiring Greenland. He described the territory as vast, largely uninhabited, underdeveloped, and currently in an insecure state.
He emphasized that Greenland’s strategic importance outweighs its rare mineral resources, stating that its true value lies in national and international security rather than natural wealth.
“You can say yes, and we will be very grateful, or you can say no, and we will remember it,” Trump warned.
The US president further said that a strong and secure America means a strong NATO. He reiterated that the United States would stand 100 percent with NATO but added that it could not be guaranteed that allied countries would show the same level of commitment in return.
Commenting on the war in Ukraine, Trump said NATO must bring the conflict to an end, claiming that many lives are being lost unnecessarily. He also asserted that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want to reach a deal.
It is worth noting that Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland have intensified in recent months. As part of this pressure campaign, he has also imposed tariffs on nine European countries.
Meanwhile, Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected any notion of a sale, maintaining that the territory is not for sale. They have warned that if any attempt is made to impose such a move by force, they will resist and fight for their survival.
