US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to European leaders over his bid to acquire Greenland while boasting of a massive oil transfer following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump warned that Europe faces a simple choice regarding the Arctic territory: “You can say yes and we’ll be very appreciative, and you can say no and we will remember.” The President linked the acquisition directly to the future of US protection for the continent, describing the mineral-rich island as essential for a “Golden Dome” missile shield to protect NATO.
The President’s “America First” rhetoric was further bolstered by claims of a decisive victory in South America. Trump told the global elite that Venezuela is set to do “fantastically well” following the recent US-backed intervention and the abduction of Maduro earlier this month. He revealed that the US has already secured 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil—seized from tankers and storage—claiming the revenue would be controlled by Washington to “benefit the people.”
The address was also marked by personal barbs and a rejection of European climate policy. He lambasted the EU’s transition to renewable energy as a “green new scam,” blaming windmills for “catastrophically high” energy prices. However, he offered rare praise for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stating that the energy crisis in Germany was “not Chancellor Merz’s fault” and that the new leader is currently “solving the problem” inherited from his predecessors.
Despite the aggressive posturing, Trump ruled out the use of “excessive strength and force” to take Greenland “for now,” though he insisted the US is the only nation capable of securing the territory against Russian and Chinese interests.
He is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today, having claimed that he is “dealing with President Putin” to reach a deal to end the war.
