United States President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to European leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF), claiming the continent is “not heading in the right direction” due to what he described as unchecked immigration from distant countries, rendering some places “not recognisable anymore.”
Speaking during a wide-ranging address that lasted over an hour, Trump highlighted America’s economic successes and urged Europe to adopt similar practices. “This afternoon, I want to discuss how we have achieved this economic miracle, how we intend to raise living standards for our citizens to levels never seen before and perhaps how you too and the places where you come from can do much better by following what we’re doing because certain places in Europe are not even recognisable frankly, anymore. They’re not recognisable. And I love Europe and I want to see Europe do good, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” Trump said.
The Davos gathering has been overshadowed by concerns from U.S. allies in Europe regarding Trump’s stated intention to annex Greenland. In his speech, Trump appeared to confuse Greenland with Iceland on four occasions, drawing murmurs from the audience.
In a related development, Trump announced he is abandoning plans to impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, citing their opposition to his Greenland acquisition efforts. Instead, he revealed progress on the issue via a social media post, stating he has “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” following discussions with NATO’s secretary general.
Earlier, the president explicitly ruled out military action to seize the island but emphasised the U.S.’s overwhelming capabilities. “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,” he told world leaders. Trump added that he is pushing for immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland, underscoring its strategic importance.
The speech capped a day of high-stakes diplomacy at the forum, where economic inequality, climate change, and geopolitical tensions remain key topics. Trump’s remarks on Europe and immigration echoed his long-standing views, while the Greenland saga continues to strain transatlantic relations.