--- title: Trump Says He Will Not Use Force to Acquire Greenland description: It is the first time Trump has ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland, which he claims is vital for U.S. national security. canonical: https://time.com/7354286/trump-greenland-force-davos/ author: Richard Hall article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-01-21T14:36:52.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T08:13:53.840Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Says He Will Not Use Force to Acquire Greenland og:description: It is the first time Trump has ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland. og:url: https://time.com/7354286/trump-greenland-force-davos/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4017aaaae9a9c1ac/6998ccfe1500fb0ff3aa6eda/AP26021510610073.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2807 og:image:height: 1579 og:image:alt: Switzerland Davos Trump og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Says He Will Not Use Force to Acquire Greenland twitter:description: It is the first time Trump has ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4017aaaae9a9c1ac/6998ccfe1500fb0ff3aa6eda/AP26021510610073.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 02:31 video:published: 2026-01-21 section: politics topics: Greenland acquisition, World Economic Forum, Davos, use of force, tariffs, economic coercion, territorial sovereignty, Denmark, Canada, U.S. role in the world, trade agreements, global rupture genre: speech, news report tones: defiant, combative, confrontational, assertive emotions: anger (medium), pride (medium), tension (high) sentiment: negative audience: news readers, political observers, business leaders, foreign policy followers people: Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron organizations: World Economic Forum, United States, Denmark, Canada content_suitability: politics [00:00-02:31]; war [00:16-00:35] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Trump Says He Will Not Use Force to Acquire Greenland > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=3228f6e1-65be-4c2f-b53f-c4d6c8623e4c&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Trump speaks as tensions over Greenland dominate Davos [Watch (HLS stream): Trump speaks as tensions over Greenland dominate Davos](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/oL9X8h53.m3u8) (2:31)  _Published 2026-01-21. President Donald Trump delivered a defiant and combative address at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, using the annual gathering of world leaders and business executives to tout America’s role in the world and pressing his case for the U.S. to acquire Greenland._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary The video presents excerpts from remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, centered on U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland. The speaker says he will not use force while describing U.S. strength and its role in the world. Another speaker describes a global rupture in which economic tools such as tariffs and supply chains are used as leverage, and states support for Greenland and Denmark's right to determine Greenland's future. The excerpts end with a repeated demand that Greenland be given to the U.S. and a question from the audience about Macron's strategy. ## Key points - Trump says the U.S. probably won't get Greenland unless he uses excessive force, but he repeatedly states he does not want to and will not use force. (00:16) - A speaker says the world is in the midst of a rupture, not a transition. (00:35) - The same speaker says great powers are using economic integration as weapons: tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, and supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. (00:39) - A speaker states firm support for Greenland and Denmark and their unique right to determine Greenland's future. (00:50) - The speaker criticizes trade agreements and endless new tariffs as unacceptable, especially when used as leverage against territorial sovereignty. (00:58) - Trump says the U.S. protected others, claiming without it they would be speaking German and a little Japanese, and says Canada gets freebies and lives because of the U.S. (01:27) - Trump describes Greenland as a vast, almost entirely uninhabited, undeveloped, unsecured island that is part of North America and says it is U.S. territory. (01:48) - Trump says the U.S. wants Greenland for world protection and offers a choice: say yes and the U.S. will be appreciative, or say no and it will remember. (02:06) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:16] Opening remarks in Davos. The speaker greets business leaders and friends, and jokes about a few enemies. - [00:16 to 00:35] Statements on force. The speaker says the U.S. could use excessive force but repeatedly states it will not. - [00:35 to 01:25] Rupture and economic coercion. A speaker describes a world rupture, tariffs as leverage, support for Greenland and Denmark, and criticism of trade pressure. - [01:25 to 01:48] Allies, Canada and U.S. role. After an interjection, Trump says others owe the U.S. and that Canada lives because of it. - [01:48 to 02:22] Greenland demand and choice. Trump calls Greenland North American territory and says the U.S. wants it, offering a yes or no choice. - [02:22 to 02:31] Question about Macron's strategy. A questioner asks about Emmanuel Macron's strategy. ## Key quotes - [00:28] Donald Trump: "I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force." - [00:35] Speaker at Davos: "We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition." - [01:27] Donald Trump: "Without us right now," - [01:58] Donald Trump: "That's our territory." - [02:06] Donald Trump: "We want a piece of ice for world protection," - [02:17] Donald Trump: "Or you can say no and we will remember." ## Questions this video answers - Does Trump say he will use force to acquire Greenland? [00:16] - What does the speaker say is happening to the global order? [00:35] - What position is expressed on Greenland and Denmark's right to decide Greenland's future? [00:50] - What does Trump say about Canada and the U.S.? [01:34] - How does Trump describe Greenland and why does he say the U.S. wants it? [01:48] - What choice does Trump present to those who control Greenland? [02:11] ## Content suitability - politics [00:00-02:31]: Political speech about U.S. acquisition of Greenland, tariffs and relations with allies. - war [00:16-00:35]: Discussion of whether force would be used to acquire territory, with the speaker stating he will not use force.  by [Richard Hall](https://time.com/author/richard-hall/)  ## Richard Hall Editor Jan 21, 2026 2:36 PM UTC President Donald Trump delivered a defiant and combative address at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, using the annual gathering of world leaders and business executives to tout America’s role in the world and pressing his case for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.  by [Richard Hall](https://time.com/author/richard-hall/)  ## Richard Hall Editor Jan 21, 2026 2:36 PM UTC President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would not use force to [acquire Greenland](https://time.com/7353359/trump-greenland-annexation-no-going-back-united-kingdom-argument/), the first time he has ruled out using military action to acquire the territory. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump lamented that the United States “probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable.” “But I won't do that,” he added. “That's probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force.” **Read more**: [_The Five Ways Europe Could Respond to Trump’s Greenland Threat_](https://time.com/7353681/greenland-trump-threat-europe-nato-response/) “All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland," he continued. The comments come amid a prolonged campaign by Trump to annex the island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. That campaign has become increasingly confrontational in recent weeks, as Trump has insisted that [there was](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115925766187001811) "no going back” on his push to acquire Greenland, which he has insisted is essential for U.S. national security. In recent weeks, Trump has posted [a meme](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115925897257210763) showing pictures of the island draped in an American flag, and raised the example of the U.S. military's [removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro](https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-greenland-cuba-571aac35e259857fd512c46f5af11e4d) when discussing his designs on Greenland, prompting fears that he may use military action to seize the territory. Trump's aggressive posture prompted angst among European officials, and his appearance was preceded by a series of speeches condemning his ambitions to take the territory. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced what he described as a "new imperialism," without mentioning Trump by name. "We do prefer respect to bullies," Macron said. "And we do prefer rule of law to brutality." Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, similarly, did not say Trump's name, but announced that the "rules-based order is fading." "Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid," Carney said. Trump's pressure campaign over Greenland had ramped up ahead of Davos, escalating from words to action. Over the weekend, he announced [tariffs on eight European countries](https://time.com/7347120/greenland-trump-protests-tariffs/)—and NATO allies— for taking part in military exercises on the island. That in turn prompted threats of retaliatory economic measures from those countries, which were already subject to tariffs of 10% and 15%. European Union (E.U.) officials convened an emergency meeting to discuss a coordinated response. Some officials raised the prospect of abandoning the U.S.-E.U. trade deal struck last summer. The agreement includes $750 billion worth of energy purchases from the U.S., $600 billion in E.U. investment, and billions of dollars in reduced tariffs on imports from European countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned during her speech at the World Economic Forum that the E.U.’s response to the tariff threats will be “unflinching, united and proportional.” “In politics as in business—a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” von der Leyen said. _This is a developing story._ ## Transcript [00:00] It's great to be back in beautiful Davos, [00:03] Switzerland and to address [00:06] so many respected business leaders, [00:08] so many friends, a few enemies. [00:16] We probably won't get anything unless [00:19] I decide to use excessive strength [00:21] and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. [00:25] But I won't do that. [00:28] I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. [00:30] I won't use force. [00:35] We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition. [00:39] Great powers have begun using [00:41] economic integration as weapons, [00:44] tariffs as leverage, [00:45] financial infrastructure as coercion, [00:47] supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. [00:50] We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and [00:54] fully support their unique right [00:56] to determine Greenland's future. [00:58] Competition from the United States of America [01:01] through trade agreements that [01:02] undermine our export interests, [01:04] demand maximum concession concessions, [01:07] and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe, [01:11] combined with an endless accumulation of [01:13] new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable, [01:17] even more so when they are used [01:19] as leverage against territorial sovereignty. [01:25] Mr. president. [01:27] Without us right now, [01:30] you'd all be speaking German [01:32] and a little Japanese, perhaps. [01:34] Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. [01:37] They should be grateful also. [01:38] But they're not. Canada lives because of [01:40] the United States. Remember that. [01:48] Greenland is a vast, [01:50] almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory. [01:54] This enormous, unsecured island [01:57] is actually part of North America. [01:58] That's our territory. In fact, [02:00] the United States economy is on [02:02] pace to grow at. Not even close. [02:06] We want a piece of ice for world protection, [02:10] and they won't give it. [02:11] They have a choice. [02:13] You can say yes, [02:14] and we will be very appreciative. [02:17] Or you can say no and we will remember. [02:22] What do you think about Emmanuel Macron's strategy? 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