PoliticsJAN 21, 2026
Trump Suffers Geographic Malfunction at Davos
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this afternoon, and repeatedly made one big geographical mistake.
Trump seems to have confused Greenland with Iceland multiple times, and it’s not his first time making this error.
While addressing people at the conference, Trump referred to Greenland as a “piece of ice” before calling it Iceland.
Highlights
- Trump repeatedly confused Greenland with Iceland during his Davos speech, calling Greenland a 'piece of ice.'
- He insisted the U.S. should own Greenland for defense, dismissing leases and ruling out the use of force but threatening strength.
- Trump criticized Europe’s policies and warned of tariffs if Europe opposes U.S. interest in Greenland.
Trump repeatedly said 'Iceland' instead of 'Greenland' in a speech
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Soon after his comments, “Iceland” began trending on X, the word being flooded with memes.
Trump spoke about Greenland at the conference. “I'm helping NATO, and until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me,” Trump said, confusing the two nations.
At another point, he said, “They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money.”
Trump also ruled out using force in his push to acquire Greenland, but insisted that no other nation could secure the territory like the U.S. would.
“People thought I would use force, but I don’t have to use force,” Trump said. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
He added that if he were to use force, the U.S. would be “unstoppable.”
Speaking about NATO, Trump said, “We never asked for anything, and we never got anything, we 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."
The White House had previously said that it had not ruled out military options for acquiring Greenland.
Image credits: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Trump also said he wants the ownership of Greenland “because you need the ownership to defend it, you can’t defend it on a lease.” He continued, “Who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease?”
Along with downplaying Greenland as a “piece of ice,” Trump also called it a “small ask” for a “piece of ice.”
This is not Trump’s first time confusing Iceland and Greenland. During a White House news conference on Tuesday, Trump said, “We're doing numbers that nobody's ever thought possible. We're the richest we ever were. It's because of tariffs and the proper use of tariffs, and we're also the most secure. As an example, Iceland, without tariffs, they wouldn't even be talking to us about it. So we'll see what happens. I think it's going to work out quite well.”
He also referred to World War II, when then US president Harry S. Truman struck an agreement with Denmark, after occupying the territory to protect it from the Nazis. Since then, the US can have as many troops as it prefers in Greenland. Truman had tried to buy the territory for $1.5m, but this offer was rejected.
Trump called Greenland a 'piece of ice' before saying wanting to own it was a 'small ask'
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Trump said, “After the war we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that?”
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries supporting Denmark in fighting the Trump administration’s insistence on owning Greenland. He said that the U.S. will remember if Europe doesn't accept his bid to take over Greenland.
“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won't give it. We've never asked for anything else, and we could have kept that piece of land, and we didn't.”
He added, “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember a strong and secure America means a strong NATO, and that's one reason why I'm working every day to ensure our military is very powerful.”
Image credits: Tom Brenner/Getty Images
Trump made these comments after saying Europe was not heading in the right direction, and went on to criticize their immigration and climate policies. He said, “They have to get out of the culture that they’ve created over the last 10 years. It’s horrible, what they’re doing to themselves. They’re destroying themselves, these beautiful, beautiful places.”
Trump also spoke about Venezuela and drug trafficking. He said all major oil companies were cooperating with the U.S. on Venezuela, claiming, “Very major oil companies coming in with us.” During a Jan. 11 meeting with oil majors, ExxonMobil Chief Executive Darren Woods had said Venezuela was currently “uninvestable.”
Speaking about Canada, Trump claimed, “Canada lives because of the United States.”
"Canada gets a lot of freebies from us — by the way, they should be grateful also, but they're not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn't so grateful,” Trump said. “They should be grateful to us, Canada. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”