President Trump delivered a pointed message to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, escalating tensions over Greenland and U.S. trade policy. The exchange followed public comments from Carney criticizing the administration’s push to acquire the Arctic territory.
As reported by The Hill, Trump told the audience that Canada “lives because of the United States,” framing the remarks as a response to what he described as a lack of gratitude from Ottawa. The comments came after Carney publicly defended Greenland’s sovereignty and criticized proposed U.S. tariffs targeting Denmark and several European allies. Earlier coverage noted similar diplomatic friction in how Trump refused to rule out war over Greenland, which set the stage for the Davos comments.
Those import taxes had been scheduled to take effect on February 1, with Trump previously stating they would remain in place until a deal was reached over Greenland. That position has since shifted following a framework agreement on Greenland, with the tariff threat dropped. Carney’s opposition to the tariffs and his support for Denmark helped spark the earlier diplomatic dispute.
The remarks quickly drew responses on both sides of the border.
During his Davos appearance, Trump claimed the United States already provides significant protection to Canada, citing the construction of a “Golden Dome” defense system that he said would naturally shield its northern neighbor. He added that Canada receives “a lot of freebies” from the U.S. and suggested Carney should show more appreciation before making public statements.
Carney responded earlier in the week by reaffirming Canada’s support for Greenland and Denmark, emphasizing their “unique right to determine Greenland’s future.” He also reiterated Canada’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5, pointing to investments in submarines, aircraft, and over-the-horizon radar as evidence of Canada’s role in defending the alliance’s northern and western flanks alongside the Nordic-Baltic Eight. Observers also pointed to Trump sharing private messages from French President Emmanuel Macron about Greenland as a sign of rising diplomatic tensions.
Trump also accused Denmark of being ungrateful, claiming that without U.S. assistance during World War II, the country would have been overtaken by the Axis powers. While he stepped back from earlier suggestions of using military force to acquire Greenland, the president called for immediate negotiations over the island’s future.
The speech prompted criticism from U.S. Democrats attending the forum. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the Greenland proposal as unrealistic and described the Davos remarks as out of step with established facts, while Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the comments dangerous and disrespectful, arguing they undermined national security and economic confidence. Beshear also noted that Trump referred to Greenland as Iceland during his remarks.
Published: Jan 21, 2026 06:30 pm