U.S. President Donald Trump used a World War II history lesson at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday to renew his push for negotiations aimed at transferring Greenland from Denmark to the United States.
In a speech centered on NATO spending, European security, and Arctic strategy, Trump pointed to Denmark’s swift defeat by Germany in 1940 and argued that America’s wartime actions in the region created a lasting U.S. claim to Greenland’s strategic importance.
“The United States was then compelled — we did it, we felt an obligation to do it — to send our own forces to hold the Greenland territory, and hold it we did, at great cost and expense,” Trump said. “They didn’t have a chance of getting on it, and they tried. Denmark knows that.”
Trump said the U.S. built out a major military footprint on the island during the war, framing it as an effort undertaken largely for Denmark’s benefit.
“We literally set up bases on Greenland for Denmark. We fought for Denmark. We weren’t fighting for anyone else. We were fighting to save it for Denmark, big, beautiful piece of ice. It’s hard to call it land. It’s a big piece of ice,” he said. “But we saved Greenland and successfully prevented our enemies from gaining a foothold in our hemisphere, so we did it for ourselves also.”
He then turned to what he characterized as the postwar handoff back to Denmark — and the resentment he says followed.
“And then after the war, which we won, we won it big. Without us right now, you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese perhaps,” Trump said. “After the war we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But we gave it back. But how ungrateful are they now?”
Trump argued that today’s global threats — missiles, nuclear weapons, and increasingly advanced military systems — make Greenland’s location even more consequential than it was in 1945. He described the island as a vast, lightly populated territory positioned between major world powers.
“Greenland is a vast, almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the United States, Russia, and China,” he said. “That’s exactly where it is, right smack in the middle.”
He insisted that natural resources are not the primary driver of his interest, even as he acknowledged Greenland’s rare earth potential.
“Everyone talks about the minerals. There’s so much rare earth… But that’s not the reason we need it,” Trump said. “We need it for strategic national security and international security.”
Trump claimed the U.S. is uniquely capable of protecting the island and called for urgent talks to secure “right, title and ownership.” He also dismissed a lease arrangement as inadequate, suggesting it would create practical barriers to long-term defense planning.
On whether he would use military force, Trump said he didn’t want to — while also warning that Denmark should not assume pressure would stop at diplomacy.
“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable,” he said. “But I won’t do that… I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
He tied the Greenland push to NATO spending, arguing that his administration had forced allies to dramatically increase defense contributions. Addressing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte — whom Trump said was in attendance — he claimed allies moved to 5% of GDP after failing to meet earlier targets.
“They never go up higher than 2%. But they went to 5% and now they’re paying the 5%,” Trump said. “They didn’t pay the 2% and now they’re paying the 5%, and they’re stronger for it.”
Trump also pointed to recent U.S. military action in Venezuela as an example of American reach and described plans for a $1.5 trillion defense budget. He added that he wants battleships brought back into service, arguing they would dwarf WWII-era ships such as the Missouri, Iowa, and Alabama in power.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly rejected the idea that Greenland is for sale, emphasizing that decisions about the island’s future belong to its people. Greenland’s government has stressed self-determination, while Denmark maintains the territory remains under Danish sovereignty with broad autonomy.
