Trump rules out taking Greenland by force, but says he'll still get it

"We paid for, in my opinion, 100% of NATO because they weren't paying their bills. And all we're asking for is Greenland," he said.

By Ben Whedon

Published: January 21, 2026 9:19am

Updated: January 21, 2026 10:36am

President Donald Trump on Wednesday indicated he would not take Greenland by force but said he would still succeed in acquiring the island.

He further asserted that the U.S. had not benefited from its membership in NATO and that Washington sought Greenland for security reasons that would benefit the alliance.

"What we have gotten out of NATO is nothing," Trump said at the World Economic Forum. "We paid for, in my opinion, 100% of NATO because they weren't paying their bills. And all we're asking for is Greenland."

He further highlighted that Washington had controlled Greenland as a "trustee" during World War II but returned it to Denmark after the conflict. Trump further highlighted that Greenland would play a major role in any future conflict due to his plans to install a "Golden Dome" in the area.

"What I'm asking for is a peace of ice... that can play a vital role in world peace and protection," Trump insisted. "The problem with NATO is we'll be there for them 100% but I'm not sure they'll be there for us."

Notably, NATO's Article V was invoked in 2001 after the 911 terror attacks to defend the U.S.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.