Delivered a sweeping blow: Donald Trump at the WEF:Image: keystone
As was to be expected, Trump used the stage in Davos to launch an all-round attack: against Europe, against Greenland, against NATO and Switzerland. That was Donald Trump’s speech.
January 21, 2026, 4:45 p.mJan 21, 2026, 5:57 p.m
Trump took center stage in Davos for over an hour and launched an all-round attack: Greenland, NATO, Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses, Karin Keller-Sutter. In a speech that, as usual, had no common thread.
To give you an overview of the speech, the most important points are summarized here.
Trump is sticking to Greenland’s claim – but without the threat of violence
Of course, what Trump had to say regarding the Greenland conflict was eagerly awaited. First he said he had the greatest respect for Greenland and also Denmark. To then once again underline his claim to the largest island in the world:
“The USA needs Greenland for international security. This is our territory.”
Only the USA has the strength and power to protect Greenland. No NATO country can do that, only the USA: “They saw that in Venezuela a few weeks ago,” he said.
Trump continues: “All I want is Greenland. That belonged to us and we gave it back to Denmark.” That was a big mistake.
The USA would seek “immediate negotiations” to take over the island. This is necessary for the security of the United States. For Trump the matter is simple, they just want a piece of ice to protect the world because:
“If there is a war, it will take place in Greenland.”
But the USA will not use force: “You can say no, then we will remember it. On the other hand, if NATO said yes, you would definitely have the respect of the USA.”
Video: watson/michael shepherd
Customs and Switzerland
«My customs policy is part of national security. We are no longer willing to subsidize the rest of the world,” says Trump.
He also referred to the Swiss tariffs: “39 percent, and then all hell broke loose.” Switzerland paid nothing for the imports to the USA and only sold its “beautiful watches”.
“We had a deficit of 41 billion. That’s why we set the high tariffs. Nobody believed we would do this.”
Then he talks about Karin Keller-Sutter:
“This woman called me, I think it was the president or the prime minister, whatever her name is. She pissed me off.”
Trump about last year’s Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter
Switzerland would have been financially ruined if the USA had stayed at 39 percent: “But we didn’t want that.” As a result, he was overrun by Swiss interest groups, and even Rolex came by. “And then I realized: Without us, Switzerland wouldn’t be Switzerland,” said Trump.
At least the US President expressed himself positively on one point. Trump said he found Switzerland and Davos a “beautiful place.”
Video: watson/Elena Maria Müller
Attacks against everything and everyone
NATO is also a dominant topic in Trump’s speech; he openly threatens the Western defense alliance.
The European states have paid too low contributions to NATO for years. “I will no longer accept that,” said Trump.
He wants a strong Europe, but NATO doesn’t appreciate what the USA is doing, they haven’t gotten anything in return.
Joe Biden is also being talked about again, saying he is to blame for the Ukraine war and inflation. In the first year, Trump was just busy ironing out all his mistakes.
And when Trump goes all out, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell can’t be left out:
“He’s a disaster, he’s always late.”
Trump said he would therefore appoint a new chairman in the next few months.
Trump also discussed Macron’s sunglasses appearance, Israel, wind turbines, Germany, Venezuela, the radical left, Somalia, Newsom and China in his speech.