Video: Trump fluffs Greenland with Iceland during Davos speech

US President Donald Trump confused Greenland with Iceland during a wide-ranging address at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, while reaffirming that no other country could secure the Danish territory and ruling out the use of force in any acquisition bid. “People thought I would use force, but I don’t have to. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” Trump said, referring to Greenland, although on several occasions he mistakenly called it Iceland.

The gaffe came as he criticised European allies for disloyalty, policy missteps on energy, immigration, and geopolitics, and what he described as ingratitude for US contributions to NATO.

As he criticised NATO, Trump suggested the alliance’s other members had fallen out of love with him, recalling that until recently, they “loved me” and “called me daddy.” He repeated the reference to Iceland, an independent NATO member with no stake in Greenland, and said, “I went from running it to being a terrible human being.”

Trump described his interest in Greenland as a strategic, but modest, proposal. “What I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection. It’s a very small ask, compared to what we have given them for many, many decades,” he said.

He called Denmark ungrateful for US contributions, saying no nation other than the United States could secure Greenland, which sits largely undefended despite its key strategic location. Trump confirmed he is seeking immediate negotiations to discuss acquiring the territory but ruled out any use of force. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said.

The speech, which lasted over an hour, drew hundreds of delegates to the WEF lobby, many watching on mobile phones or video monitors, although most tuned out after the first hour and returned to networking. Analysts said the remarks, mixing gaffes with pointed criticism of Europe, overshadowed Trump’s intended focus on the US economy and stirred unease among transatlantic allies.

NATO leaders have warned that Trump’s Greenland strategy could unsettle the alliance, while Denmark and Greenland officials have suggested ways for a greater US presence without ceding sovereignty, reflecting the strategic importance of the 57,000-strong island territory.

Trump framed his bid as a matter of national security. “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it,” he said, underscoring Greenland’s role in America’s Arctic strategy.

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