The President spoke at the World Economic Forum, giving a forceful message to European allies and adversaries alike.
President Donald Trump used his appearance in Davos to project a message of U.S. strength and tout economic power to fellow world leaders. Speaking at the World Economic Forum for the first time in his second term, Trump emphasized military readiness, calling for increased security apparatuses and burden-sharing from NATO allies. Trump praised his administration’s focus on global peace, and urged his counterparts to take a more active role in ending armed conflicts. His appearance came amid a flurry of foreign policy activity, including ongoing negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, tensions with Greenland and a successful ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro.
Trump reiterated his long-standing push for negotiations over Greenland, a territory currently controlled by Denmark and located in the Arctic. Trump ruled out employing force or sending U.S. troops to Greenland but insisted claiming the territory for U.S. control was a top priority in 2026.
“What I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located,” Trump said to NATO countries. “It’s a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades. This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America. That’s our territory.” Trump told world leaders they could “agree” to his ask and the world could move on, or they could “say no” and the U.S. would “not forget.” He backed off earlier threats of increasing tariffs with NATO nations until negotiations over Greenland expanded.
Trump also used the forum to double down on his tariff strategy, warning that the United States is prepared to impose new dues on trading partners it believes are engaging in unfair practices. He also lauded the concessions some trading adversaries have made as a result of tariff threats in negotiations, insisting there were things he “never could have gotten done” without tariffs. Trump said tariffs will remain a key tool to protect American industry and national security, arguing they will continue to force unwilling participants to the table in the future. Some European leaders expressed concern that renewed trade barriers and threats from the U.S. could disrupt global supply chains, though the President rejects those claims.
Trump also announced the creation of a new “Board of Peace”, an advisory body he said would focus on preventing major international conflicts through deterrence, diplomacy, and economic pressure. He described the group as a “forum” for senior U.S. officials and outside experts to coordinate strategy on Eastern Europe and the Middle East specifically. Trump touted his administration’s role in orchestrating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, significantly reducing the violence in the bloodiest war in Israel’s history.
While in Davos, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who remains at war with President Vladimir Putin and Russia. Trump, who was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, spoke with Zelensky on progress for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Trump and Witkoff pointed to “one main sticking point” between the two nations but did not elaborate on the point. Witkoff called the talks “productive”, while Trump reiterated his belief the conflict will end during his presidency. Following Trump’s 90-minute message, Zelensky unleashed a scathing speech during which he called European leaders “all talk and no action” and criticized the showmanship of the World Economic Forum.
