What exactly did President Trump say about Greenland and Iceland in his Davos speech?

Trump repeatedly referred to 'Iceland' instead of Greenland four to five times during his January 21 Davos address, despite his written remarks calling Greenland a 'piece of ice.'

How did White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defend Trump against the gaffe claims?

Leavitt disputed a reporter's fact-check on X by pointing to Trump's written remarks referring to Greenland as a 'piece of ice' and misspelled the reporter's name in her reply.

What reasons did Trump give for wanting U.S. ownership of Greenland?

Trump cited Greenland's strategic position between the U.S., Russia, and China for national security, its history of U.S. defense during World War II, and described it as a 'small ask' compared to U.S. contributions to NATO.

How did European leaders respond to Trump's Greenland proposal?

Denmark's prime minister and EU officials rejected U.S. acquisition demands; British PM Keir Starmer vowed not to yield to tariff threats, and officials discussed a 'trade bazooka' response.

Was Trump's claim about giving Greenland back to Denmark after World War II accurate?

No; the U.S. defended Greenland during WWII but never possessed or owned it to give back—Denmark incorporated it constitutionally in 1953, accepted by the UN including the U.S. vote.

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1M ago

Leavitt Defends Trump After Davos Iceland-Greenland Gaffe

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump after video showed him repeatedly saying 'Iceland' while discussing Greenland during his Davos speech, prompting ridicule.

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At the World Economic Forum in Davos, press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump after video showed him repeatedly mixing up Greenland and Iceland during his Jan. 21 address.

Leavitt disputed a reporter's fact-check on X, pointing to Trump's written remarks calling Greenland a 'piece of ice,' and misspelled the reporter's name in her reply.

Video clips showed Trump explicitly saying 'Iceland' multiple times, sparking social media ridicule and comparisons to Viking-era 'branding' naming Greenland by Erik the Red.

Trump used the Davos platform to push a plan to seek U.S. ownership of Greenland, rule out force, threaten tariffs, and tout domestic economic measures ahead of midterms.

European leaders, including Denmark's prime minister, rejected U.S. acquisition demands; EU officials discussed a potential 'trade bazooka' response to the administration's coercive tactics.

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: Trump repeatedly referred to 'Iceland' instead of Greenland four to five times during his January 21 Davos address, despite his written remarks calling Greenland a 'piece of ice.'
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
: Leavitt disputed a reporter's fact-check on X by pointing to Trump's written remarks referring to Greenland as a 'piece of ice' and misspelled the reporter's name in her reply.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
: Trump cited Greenland's strategic position between the U.S., Russia, and China for national security, its history of U.S. defense during World War II, and described it as a 'small ask' compared to U.S. contributions to NATO.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
: Denmark's prime minister and EU officials rejected U.S. acquisition demands; British PM Keir Starmer vowed not to yield to tariff threats, and officials discussed a 'trade bazooka' response.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
: No; the U.S. defended Greenland during WWII but never possessed or owned it to give back—Denmark incorporated it constitutionally in 1953, accepted by the UN including the U.S. vote.
Sources:
PolitiFact

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