Former US President Donald Trump has triggered fresh controversy on the global stage after appearing to repeatedly confuse Greenland with Iceland during a high-profile speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking before an audience of world leaders and business executives, Trump doubled down on his long-running push for the United States to take control of Greenland, arguing that the Arctic territory is essential for American national security. But as he made his case, his remarks drifted in a way that left many listeners puzzled.
At several points, Trump referred to Greenland as a “big piece of ice,” a description he has used before. However, he also repeatedly mentioned Iceland — a completely separate and sovereign country — while discussing market reactions, NATO responsibilities, and diplomatic tensions.
“Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland, so Iceland has already cost us a lot of money,” Trump said. “But that dip is peanuts compared to what it’s gone up.”
He continued invoking Iceland as he spoke about strained relations with European allies, suggesting that leaders who once admired him had turned against him after he raised the issue. “Until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me,” Trump said, adding that he now faced resistance over what he described as a relatively small request.
The remarks immediately raised eyebrows, as Trump’s recent threats and negotiations have centered on Greenland, not Iceland. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of around 50,000, while Iceland is an independent nation of nearly 400,000 people. The two lie hundreds of kilometers apart in the North Atlantic, separated by the Denmark Strait.
Trump also criticized NATO during the speech, claiming the alliance had not supported the United States “on Iceland,” despite what he described as heavy American financial and military commitments. His comments came amid growing unease among NATO allies over how far he might go to pressure Denmark and Greenland.
The White House pushed back swiftly against claims of confusion. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed suggestions that Trump had mixed up the two, arguing that his references to a “piece of ice” were clearly about Greenland. “You’re the only one mixing anything up here,” she wrote in response to a reporter on social media.
Still, Trump’s spoken remarks included multiple explicit references to Iceland, not just metaphors, adding fuel to the debate. The Davos speech was not the first time this has happened. Just a day earlier, Trump mentioned Iceland instead of Greenland during a White House briefing while discussing potential tariffs on European countries that oppose his plans.
Despite the confusion, Trump sought to reassure allies on one key point. He said he does not intend to use military force to take Greenland, calling instead for immediate negotiations. At the same time, he issued a pointed warning, saying the United States would “remember” if Denmark and Greenland refused his demands.
The comments have already had real-world consequences. Over the weekend, thousands of demonstrators gathered across Denmark and Greenland to protest Trump’s rhetoric. In Copenhagen, an estimated 10,000 people filled City Hall Square, many wearing parody red caps reading “Make America Go Away.”
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has also drawn international attention beyond Europe. In Moscow, officials have openly welcomed the strain his stance is placing on NATO. Russian leaders have described the alliance as being in crisis, a development analysts say plays directly into the Kremlin’s long-term goals.
At home, public opinion appears firmly against Trump’s ambitions. Recent polling shows a large majority of Americans oppose any military takeover of Greenland, including more than half of Republican voters.
For now, Trump’s Davos speech has left allies unsettled, critics energized, and observers once again debating whether his comments were strategic pressure tactics — or another moment of high-profile confusion on the world stage.
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