US President Donald Trump raised eyebrows after claiming at Davos that the US effectively controlled Greenland during World War II and was “stupid” to return it to Denmark, calling Denmark “ungrateful.” He argued that only the US can defend the island.
President Donald Trump used his address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, to revive his long-running push for the United States to acquire Greenland from Denmark, invoking World War II history to justify his claims. During the speech, Trump argued that the US had effectively controlled Greenland during the Second World War and was “stupid” to return it afterward.
“After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But we gave it back. But how ungrateful are they now?” he said.
Trump sharply criticised Denmark, branding it “ungrateful” and claiming it was unable to defend either itself or Greenland during WWII. He pointed out that Denmark fell to Nazi Germany within six hours and argued that US intervention was decisive for Europe’s survival.
“Without us, you’d be speaking German and Japanese perhaps,” he told the audience.
He also claimed the US had effectively “already had” Greenland as a trustee after defeating the Axis powers, stating that American forces defended the island and prevented enemies from taking it.
“We literally set up bases in Greenland for Denmark, we were fighting for Denmark, but we saved Greenland and prevented our enemies from getting it,” Trump said, calling Greenland “a vast, almost uninhabited piece of ice” in a “key, strategic location between the US, China, and Russia.”
Did The US Ever Own Greenland?
A fact check of Trump’s claims shows that while the US did establish military bases in Greenland under a 1941 security agreement signed by Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Henrik Kauffmann, the United States never held legal ownership or title to the territory.
Despite this, Trump insisted that Greenland’s security can only be guaranteed by Washington. “I have tremendous respect for the people of Greenland and Denmark, but every NATO member has the obligation to defend their own territory. Only the US can defend it [Greenland],” he said.
Doubling down on his position, Trump argued that Greenland is effectively part of North America and essential to US and international security. “We need it [Greenland] for strategic national security and international security. The island is part of North America, it is our territory. It is the US alone that can protect this great piece of ice and make it that it is safe and good for Europe,” he added.
Trump concluded by saying he was seeking talks over acquiring the territory, framing the move as consistent with historical precedent. “I am seeking immediate negotiations to discuss the acquisition of this territory, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have,” he said, claiming such a move would not threaten NATO but would “greatly enhance the security of the alliance.”