In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, President Donald Trump told the audience: “Without us right now, you’d all be speaking German.”
He seemingly overlooked that German is the most widely spoken of the four official languages in Switzerland.
Many—from Brussels to Berlin to Paris—will find Trump’s speech offensive, arrogant, and inaccurate. During it, he presented the idea that Europe is on the wrong path. This is a concept Trump has frequently showcased, but it carries a different weight when presented on European soil before the faces of purported friends and allies.
There is undoubtedly immense amusement across Europe that the American president rejected using military force to acquire Greenland at the forum in Davos. However, even if he won his argument, the fundamental problem remains that he wants a piece of land whose owners insist is not for sale.
Despite this, after the forum, Trump posted on social media that he withdrew the latest tariff challenge he had announced against eight European countries he condemned as the most obstructive to his Arctic ambitions. He claimed he “set the framework of a deal” for Greenland and the Arctic after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
It remains unclear how this plan will fulfill Trump’s stated desire to own the island entirely. The proposed 10% tariffs were supposed to take effect on February 1.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told representatives in Copenhagen—before Trump posted his reversal—”What is clear enough after this speech is that the President’s resolve remains.” He added that Trump’s comments regarding the armed forces were “positive regardless of the circumstances.”
In Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, thousands of miles from Davos, government officials announced the publication of a new guide offering advice to residents on what to do in case of a “disaster” in the territory. Minister for Independence Peter Olsen said the document is a “safeguard,” adding that the Greenlandic government did not expect the need to use it.
Any hope in Europe that President Trump would overcome this transatlantic crisis was shattered when he began indicating non-compromise in a discussion about acquiring the island. He ignored the European commitment that Greenland is a sovereign territory of the European Union and recast its acquisition as a reasonable transaction given the military assistance the United States has provided the continent for decades.
Trump insisted that the United States was wrong to “give back” Greenland after securing it during World War II. Greenland was never part of the United States. He returned to his frequent refrain that European NATO members have done nothing for the U.S. He specifically belittled Denmark, noting that it “fell to Germany in 1940 after just six hours of fighting and was totally unable to defend itself or Greenland.”
Trump’s military history lesson failed to mention that the Danes were a key partner in the U.S.-backed invasion of the Empire and paid a heavy price. Denmark lost 44 soldiers, proportionately more than any ally other than the U.S. They also lost personnel alongside American forces in Iraq. Other NATO allies supported the U.S. after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
French President Emmanuel Macron was particularly singled out for ridicule. He was mocked for wearing sunglasses on Monday—he had an eye problem—and for the “difficulty” he displayed on stage. Trump insisted he liked Macron before continuing: “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
But the joke is wearing thin for many European leaders. They spent a year trying to flatter, influence, and appease the American president, only to be presented with a significant threat until now.
The European Union meets in Brussels on Thursday for an emergency meeting, with top European politicians choosing to use tougher language regarding U.S. policy. Trump’s move to withdraw the tariff challenge, which had sparked friction among EU countries, will largely de-escalate tensions during the meeting. However, they will be eager to know what “magic solution” Trump and the NATO Secretary General have found. They may decide now that there is no longer a need to consolidate around counter-tariffs and activate the EU’s own “trade missile.”
At the beginning of his 72-minute speech, President Trump boasted that “people are very happy with me” in the United States. After this latest round of Trump diplomacy, that sentiment is hard to find in the Europe the President claims to love.
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