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President Donald Trump appeared to confuse Greenland and Iceland multiple times at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In a speech on Wednesday, January 21, President Trump, 79, repeatedly referred to Greenland, a NATO territory he had previously said he wanted to fully “own,” as “Iceland.”
“I support NATO, and until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me,” the president incorrectly said, appearing to express frustration that NATO allies were speaking out against his attempts to seize Greenland.
Trump also brought up the moment in June when NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to himself as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s “daddy,” saying, “Last time they called me ‘daddy.’ Someone very smart said, ‘He’s our daddy. He’s running for[NATO].'” I was running it. I went from being a business owner to being a terrible person. ”
“We’re just asking for a cold, inhospitable piece of ice that can play an important role in world peace and world protection. That’s a very small request compared to what we’ve been giving[NATO]for decades,” Trump continued.
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President Trump ended up bringing up Iceland four times in his speech, and at another point on Tuesday’s decline in Greenland-related stock markets, he said, “All I can say is that there is no Iceland in Iceland. So it’s because of Iceland that our stock market went down in the first place yesterday. So Iceland is already paying us a lot of money.”
Iceland and Greenland are neighbors, but Greenland is about 20 times larger. Both countries are NATO members.
After President Trump’s remarks, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt criticized NewsNation correspondent Libby Dean, who posted on the X show about the president’s apparent Iceland gaffe, replying, “No, he didn’t do that, Libby (sic). His written statement called Greenland a ‘piece of ice’ because that’s what it is. You’re the only one confusing anything here.”
People asked the White House for comment on the four parts of Trump’s speech that referred to “Iceland,” and White House press secretary Taylor Rogers issued a statement: “President Trump gave a historic speech at Davos, outlining America’s compelling national security interests in Greenland. Just hours later, President Trump announced the framework for a future agreement on Greenland. As the failed liberal media crumbles, President Trump continues to deliver results.”
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has become increasingly vocal about the United States’ acquisition of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark rich in oil and untapped mineral wealth, which has become a major focus of his administration in recent weeks.
President Trump previously told reporters on January 9: “Whether they like it or not, we’re going to do something in Greenland. Because if we don’t, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as our neighbors.”
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However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and other European leaders oppose the idea.
“The United States and Europe are rooted in the ideals of freedom, and we should never compromise on this. Disagreements and conflicts between the United States and Europe only benefit our enemies, who weaken us and strengthen them,” Frederiksen said in a statement posted on Facebook earlier this month.
“Denmark is a loyal and strong ally. We are in the midst of a major rearmament and stand ready to defend our values wherever necessary, even in the Arctic,” she continued. “We believe in international law and the right of peoples to self-determination. That is why we support the principles of sovereignty, self-determination and territorial integrity.”
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In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the president also said Europe had a “choice” on whether to accept the U.S. takeover of Greenland.
“If you say yes, we will be very grateful, and if you say no, we will remember that a strong and secure America means a strong NATO. That’s one of the reasons I work every day to make America’s military so strong.”
