President Donald Trump appeared to repeatedly confuse Iceland with Greenland as he spoke at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.
"They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. I mean, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland's already cost us a lot of money," the president said, in an apparent reference to Greenland.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later tried to clarify Trump's remarks, saying he was referring to Greenland as a piece of ice and sharing a screenshot from Google of a Greenland search showing an iceberg.
Why It Matters
Trump has repeatedly demanded that Denmark cede the island territory to the United States and has previously declined to rule out the use of military force to take control of it if necessary. However, in his Davos speech, Trump said, "I won't use force."
The U.S. president is still facing backlash and concern from other world leaders, particularly those in Europe, who are concerned his foreign policy objectives will lead to the end of NATO.
Trump Appears to Mix Up Greenland and Iceland in Latest Speech
The president referenced Iceland when seeming to mean Greenland at least four times.
Along with referencing the dip in markets related to Greenland, not Iceland, Trump also said that the problem with NATO was that the U.S. would always be there for the bloc, but he felt NATO would not be there for the U.S.
"Until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me, they called me 'daddy' last time," Trump said, referring to a June 2024 NATO summit at which Secretary-General Mark Rutte called Trump "daddy."
"A very smart man said, 'He's our daddy. He's running it.' I went from running it to being a terrible human being."
The president's mix-up between Greenland and Iceland was quickly noted by critics. Shannon Watts, a bestselling author, transcribed part of Trump's remarks with added commentary on X, adding "WTAF…"
Why Does Donald Trump Want Greenland?
Trump has said he wants the U.S. to take control of Greenland since his first term in office, insisting the Arctic island is necessary for U.S. national security.
In part, that is due to the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the waters around Greenland, which Trump sees as a threat, when the island is rich in natural resources.
The semiautonomous Danish territory is home to U.S. military bases, but the president has said that Denmark should hand over full control. In recent social media posts and statements, Trump and other White House officials have maintained that Greenland should become part of the U.S., despite opposition from Americans and Greenlanders alike.
Why Was Donald Trump Speaking About Iceland in Davos?
Most reactions to Trump's Iceland references were that he had mixed up the country with Greenland, with no intention of taking Iceland, too. Others, however, saw the references as intentional, suggesting a further escalation of U.S. foreign policy aimed at taking both nations.
The comments were part of just one section of a speech Trump was making at the World Economic Forum, in which he also touted his record during the first year of his second term, claiming a booming economy and success in Venezuela following military action there.
What People Are Saying
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to a NewsNation reporter on X: "His written remarks referred to Greenland as a 'piece of ice' because that’s what it is. You’re the only one mixing anything up here."
Rory Stewart, former United Kingdom Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, on X: "How can Trump be so obsessed with Greenland - but still be unable to remember its name. Who knows what sub-conscious ideas are bubbling in his mind about Iceland."
Chris Jackson, 2020 Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee member, on X: "Trump just spent part of his Davos speech repeatedly calling Greenland 'Iceland.' Where’s Jake Tapper and the rest of the media meltdown crew? Any time Biden misspoke, they treated it like a five-alarm crisis. Funny how that standard disappears when it’s Trump."
House Democratic Party Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on X: "Donald Trump is overseas embarrassing America on the world stage. Again."
What Happens Next
Trump has called for immediate negotiations on Greenland's future. The World Economic Forum will continue through Friday.
Update 1/21/26, 10:57 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 1/21/26, 2:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
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