President Donald Trump increased tensions this week by giving a brief and concerning three-word answer when asked how far he would go to take control of Greenland. During a White House press briefing, he refused to say whether he would use military force or other strong actions to get the Danish territory.
When reporters asked about his plans for the large island, President Trump simply said, “You’ll find out,” and then moved to the next question. This unclear response comes as the international situation around Greenland gets worse, with European leaders calling it “new colonialism.”
According to The Guardian, the president also refused to give NATO leaders the guarantees they want about his commitment to the alliance, especially after his recent threats to take over Greenland by force. He repeatedly said he has done more for NATO than anyone else.
Limited paths forward for acquiring Greenland from Denmark
He stated, “I’ve made it so much better, so much stronger. It’s so good now. Nato is so much stronger.” He added that it was “a nothing Nato” when he arrived and said, “Whether you like it or not, it’s only as good as we are. If Nato doesn’t have us, Nato is not very strong.”
When asked if breaking up NATO was a price he would pay to get Greenland, President Trump said the result would be good for everyone. He believes both NATO and the US will be happy with whatever happens. He defended his push by saying, “But we need it for security purposes. We need it for national security and even world security.”
The administration has few ways to get Greenland. They could try to buy it from Denmark, push for a vote on Danish rule, or use military force. The president has previously outlined his economic strategy for Greenland as an alternative approach.
President Trump made these statements just hours before his trip to Switzerland for the World Economic Summit in Davos, where he will meet with world leaders. Earlier on Tuesday, he posted on Truth Social about a conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The growing dispute has already hurt trade relations between the EU and the US. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have talked about the EU fighting back against US tariffs using an anti-coercion tool that could block US companies from the European single market. EU officials have questioned Trump’s Greenland tariff approach in recent statements.
President Trump dismissed these threats in an interview, warning that any response would fail. “See, anything they do with us, I’ll just meet it,” he said. “All I have to do is meet it and it’s gonna go ricocheting backward.” He suggested they might find a solution in the next few days while he is in Davos.
The US Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether the president can legally use tariffs as leverage in foreign policy. When asked what he would do if the justices ruled against him, he said he would use “something else,” but said the tariff strategy is “the best, the strongest, the fastest, the easiest, the least complicated.”
Published: Jan 21, 2026 12:45 pm