- President Trump reiterated his demand for the United States to acquire Greenland, emphasizing its strategic national security importance and initiating "immediate negotiations" with Denmark, while ruling out the use of force.
- The stock market experienced a dip, with the S&P 500 (SPX) and Nasdaq 100 (NDX) futures later rebounding by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively, following Trump's comments on the economy and his assertion that the market would "double" despite recent "dips" caused by the Greenland dispute.
- Trump expressed strong reservations about NATO's reciprocal commitment, stating he is "not sure they will be there for us" if the U.S. were attacked, despite affirming U.S. commitment to the alliance.
- New defense rules were announced, prohibiting stock buybacks and dividends for defense companies until they accelerate weapons production, with Trump stating the U.S. "will make weapons even faster."
- The President also announced a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and expressed a desire to stop the "bloodbath" in Ukraine, while also stating he is "dealing with Putin" who "wants to make a deal."
President Donald Trump's appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, was marked by a series of assertive statements on international relations, economic policy, and domestic issues, drawing significant global attention. His remarks, particularly concerning Greenland, NATO, and the stock market, underscored his "America First" agenda and created a volatile backdrop for global markets.
Greenland Acquisition Efforts Intensify
A central theme of Trump's address was the United States' persistent interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He explicitly stated that he is "seeking immediate negotiations" for the acquisition, emphasizing that Greenland is a "part of North America" and crucial for "strategic national security." While asserting that the U.S. "won't use force to get Greenland," he also warned Denmark that if they "say no, we will remember." Trump also controversially referred to Greenland as Iceland multiple times, attributing a recent stock market dip to this mistaken reference.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed these sentiments, highlighting Greenland's importance for the U.S.'s "Golden Dome missile shield" project. Trump further suggested that the "Golden Dome will defend Canada," implying Canada should be "grateful" for U.S. protection, a remark that drew a sharp response from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Market Reacts to Trump's Economic and Geopolitical Stance
The global stock market showed sensitivity to Trump's pronouncements. U.S. stock index futures, including the S&P 500 (SPX) and Nasdaq 100 (NDX), pared earlier declines and rose by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively in premarket trading. This rebound followed a Tuesday session where major U.S. indexes experienced their steepest drop since October, attributed to heightened geopolitical tensions arising from Trump's threats of tariffs on European allies over the Greenland dispute. Trump dismissed the market dip as "peanuts," confidently predicting the stock market "will double."
In a move impacting the defense sector, Trump announced a ban on stock buybacks and dividends for defense companies until they demonstrate faster production of military equipment. He stressed that the U.S. "will make weapons even faster after new defense rules."
Scrutiny on NATO and International Engagements
Trump's remarks also cast a shadow over the future of NATO. While affirming 100% commitment to the alliance, he expressed doubt about NATO's reciprocal support, stating, "I'm not sure they will be there for us if we were attacked." He criticized the U.S. for being "treated very unfairly by NATO" and claimed the U.S. "never asked for anything" from the alliance apart from Greenland.
On other international fronts, Trump confirmed a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and voiced a strong desire to halt the "bloodbath" in Ukraine. He also indicated ongoing dealings with Russian President Putin, suggesting Putin "wants to make a deal."
Domestic Political Undertones
Beyond foreign policy and economics, Trump touched upon domestic politics, stating that "people will soon be prosecuted for what they did in 'rigged election'" concerning the 2020 election. This comment, made at an international forum, reiterated his long-standing claims regarding the election's legitimacy.
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