Donald Trump used his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos to broaden his intervention beyond geopolitics, signalling an imminent announcement on US monetary leadership while repeating his opposition to using force over Greenland and launching a renewed attack on Nato and its value to Washington.
After reviving his call for “immediate negotiations” to acquire Greenland, Donald Trump turned to security and alliance politics. He argued that the United States contributes disproportionately to Nato, saying, “we give so much, and we get so little in return,” and claimed the US receives only “death, disruption, and massive amounts of cash given to people who don’t appreciate what we do.” His criticism extended to Europe more broadly.
Trump singled out Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in the audience, noting approvingly that Rutte had earlier praised Trump’s pressure on alliance members to raise military spending. The reference appeared designed to reinforce Trump’s long-standing claim that his confrontational approach has forced change within Nato.
‘I won’t use force’ on Greenland
Addressing concerns that his Greenland ambitions could imply military coercion, Trump sought to draw a clear boundary. He said the US would be “unstoppable” if it chose to use “excessive strength and force”, before adding bluntly: “I won’t use force.”
The clarification did little to resolve the underlying impasse. Denmark has repeatedly stated that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, is not for sale, and that any future decisions rest with Greenland’s own elected authorities.
Trump nevertheless repeated his desire to see Greenland become part of the United States, underlining its strategic importance in the Arctic amid intensifying competition over security, resources, and trade routes.
A confrontational reading of Nato
Trump went on to claim that the US has gained “nothing out of Nato”, apart from protecting Europe from Russia. The remark jarred with many in the Davos audience. Nato’s collective defence clause, Article 5, has been invoked only once in the alliance’s history—after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States—when European allies rallied to Washington’s defence.
While European governments acknowledge that US pressure has helped drive higher defence spending, they strongly reject the notion that Nato provides no strategic benefit to Washington.
Fed chair announcement ‘very soon’
Turning to monetary policy, Trump said he would announce the identity of the next chair of the Federal Reserve “very soon”. He predicted that the appointee—repeatedly referred to as “he”—would do “a very good job”, a remark that immediately narrowed the field in the eyes of many observers.
Trump said all the candidates under consideration were strong and “could all do a fantastic job”, before delivering a pointed attack on the current chair, Jerome Powell, whom he labelled the “terrible chairman” and derided as “too late” on monetary policy decisions.
The combination of reassurance, provocation, and personal criticism encapsulated Trump’s Davos performance: rejecting the use of force over Greenland, questioning the foundations of Nato, and signalling a potentially disruptive shift at the top of the world’s most influential central bank.
Newshub Editorial in Europe – 21 January 2026
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