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Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump views Greenland as critical to Western Hemisphere security, arguing that the United States cannot outsource its national defense amid growing global threats.
Live on stage in Davos, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined President Donald Trump’s plans for Greenland and explained why the territory is critical to US national security.
“I think the president has a very strong view on Western Hemisphere security and believes that the United States should not outsource our national security,” Bessent said. Maria Bartiromo of FOX Business at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. “He believes that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome missile shield.”
“The president fears that in the event of an incursion into Greenland, the United States will be called upon to defend Greenland. Greenland is becoming increasingly attractive for foreign conquest,” he continued. “And he firmly believes that it is up to the United States to prevent conflict, rather than engage and expose it to hot conflict.”
KUDLOW: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE GREENLAND
The world’s largest island has become a strategic issue, one that caught the attention of President Donald Trump long before most Americans were paying attention. A semi-autonomous Danish territory, Greenland is home to a key U.S. military base and has become increasingly important to global security and trade as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and access to natural resources.
Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference outside the USA House during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on January 19, 2026. (Getty Images)
The move underscores the serious geopolitical calculus behind Trump’s interest in the island’s location, its military value and the rapidly changing Arctic.
President Trump, who is pushing for the United States to acquire Greenland, continued to press the issue Tuesday morning.
“I had a very good telephone conversation with Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, regarding Greenland. I agreed to a meeting of the different parties in Davos, Switzerland. As I have made very clear to everyone, Greenland is imperative for national and global security. There can be no going back on that, everyone agrees!” the president said in part from a message from Truth Social.
“There is an opportunity for the United States to become involved, exposed to kinetic warfare if another country moves into Greenland,” Bessent added, “and no country will be able to assert control of Greenland if the United States controls Greenland.”
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Fox News contributor Liz Peek and Peter St. Onge, senior economist at the Heritage Foundation, discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs on NATO allies in “The Bottom Line.”
“I tell everyone, sit down, take a deep breath. Don’t fight back. Don’t fight back,” Bessent said. “The president will be here tomorrow and he will get his message across.”
Trump is expected to speak at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting on Wednesday. Bessent said he believed Trump had also planned meetings in Davos to discuss Greenland and encouraged people to “have an open mind” about the “why” of this “rapid response.”
Amanda Macias and Alex Nitzberg of Fox News contributed to this report.
