Trump says he won't proceed with tariffs over Greenland ownership
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The president said at the World Economic Forum that he won't use force to acquire Greenland.
Highlights from Jan. 21, 2026 ...
- GREENLAND TARIFFS: President Donald Trump said he will not move forward with tariffs on eight European countries for not supporting his push to take over Greenland following a conversation with NATO’s secretary general about a future deal regarding the territory and the Arctic. Earlier today, the European Parliament halted implementing a negotiated trade deal with Trump over the threats.
- DAVOS REMARKS: Trump said in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he won’t use force to seize Greenland, but he added that the U.S. would be “unstoppable” if it did. He also called for “immediate” negotiations over his proposal that the U.S. acquire the Danish territory.
- FEDERAL RESERVE DECISION: The Supreme Court today appeared unlikely to greenlight Trump’s attempt to oust Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook — a case with huge ramifications for the economy and the structure of government.
- MAXWELL DEPOSITION: House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said his panel will depose Ghislaine Maxwell next month as part of its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell's lawyer has told Comer she will invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
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Late-night and daytime talk shows must offer equal time for candidate interviews, FCC says
The Federal Communications Commission said today that daytime and late-night TV talk shows featuring interviews with political candidates must comply with “equal time” rules that give airtime to views of opposing candidates and that the shows cannot rely on a 2006 decision that suggested they were exempt.
Until now, talk shows have qualified for the equal opportunities exemption as genuine news interviews, ever since the FCC’s Media Bureau granted an exemption to the interview part of Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” in 2006. Networks have relied on the ruling as a precedent for recent interviews with political candidates.
The FCC’s Media Bureau said today, however, that networks should not rely on the 2006 decision, adding that it “has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify” for an exemption.
The agency added that any program or station seeking assurances that the equal time requirements do not apply should “promptly file a petition for a declaratory ruling.”
ICE says its officers can forcibly enter homes during immigration operations without judicial warrants: 2025 memo
An internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement document in May shows that ICE told officers and agents they can forcibly enter homes of people subject to deportation without warrants signed by judges.
The memo, dated May 12, which reads that it is from ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, was shared with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., by two whistleblowers.
It says ICE agents are allowed to forcibly enter the home of a person using an administrative warrant if a judge has issued a “final order of removal.” Administrative warrants permit officers and agents to make arrests and are different from judicial warrants, which judges or magistrates sign allowing entry into homes.
After a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters in Davos that an “ultimate long-term deal” for Greenland was in the making that would be “really fantastic for the USA.”
New York judge rules GOP-held district is unconstitutional, ordering a new map
A New York state judge ruled that New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district was drawn unconstitutionally, ordering a new map.
Judge Jeffrey Pearlman concluded that the Staten Island-based 11th District, which GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis represents, diluted minority voting power by including parts of southern Brooklyn.
Pearlman said New York’s independent redistricting commission must redraw the state’s congressional map by Feb. 6. His decision is likely to be appealed.
Greenland is ‘not just a block of ice,’ residents say, as Trump repeats demands
Trump's renewed demands for Denmark to hand over Greenland have gotten an icy response from locals on the remote Arctic island, usually far removed from world affairs.
There was a chill in the air in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, thousands of miles from the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos. There, Trump used a major speech before world leaders today to up the pressure on Denmark and Europe to hand over what he called a “piece of ice,” though he appeared to rule out using military force to do so.
“It’s crazy. Totally crazy,” Peter Jensen, an office supply store owner in Nuuk, said yesterday, before Trump’s speech. “But many are scared.”
Doubting U.S. resolve, Europe looks to bolster its own nuclear arsenal
Questioning America’s decadeslong commitment to guard them against a nuclear-armed Russia, European nations are looking at ways to bolster their own arsenals rather than continue to rely on the U.S., according to six senior European officials.
European leaders are discussing whether to rely more on nuclear-armed France and Britain instead of the U.S. or even develop their own atomic weapons, three of the senior European officials said. The discussions have taken on a new urgency in recent weeks as Trump, who blasted European countries in a speech at Davos today, demands the U.S. acquire Greenland, these officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is the only member of the European Union with the bomb, is expected to deliver a major speech about France’s nuclear policy in the coming weeks, the officials said.
Judge pauses government's access to devices seized from a Washington Post reporter
A federal magistrate judge today paused the government’s access to devices seized from a Washington Post reporter’s home, granting a motion for a standstill order until there has been further litigation on the topic.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Porter wrote in the order that the government "must preserve but must not review any of the materials that law enforcement seized pursuant to search warrants the Court issued" until the court authorizes review of the materials.
House Oversight Committee votes to recommend holding Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress
The House Oversight Committee voted this afternoon to recommend holding former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for failing to testify in the committee’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The panel voted 34-8 to recommend contempt for former President Clinton, with nine Democrats joining a unanimous vote by Republican members.
The committee voted 28-15 to recommend contempt for Hillary Clinton, with three Democrats joining a unanimous vote by Republican members.
The matter will now move forward with a full vote in the House. But with the House leaving Washington on Friday and gone next week, the earliest a full House vote would happen is most likely the first week of February.
Johnson says Jack Smith has 'got a lot to answer for' in testimony tomorrow
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said this afternoon that former special counsel Jack Smith has "got a lot to answer for" when he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.
"These are answers that have been, I think, long overdue. I think he weaponized the system, and I think he did what could be permanent damage to the perception of justice in America. So I expect he’s going to have some tough questions," Johnson told reporters.
The hearing will be at 10 a.m. ET. The GOP-led panel says its members "will examine the operations of Jack Smith’s office—specifically, his team’s investigations and prosecutions of President Donald J. Trump and his co-defendants."
Smith oversaw the two federal investigations into and indictments of Trump — one over his possession of classified documents after his first term as president and the other over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to reassure Trump over his doubts that Europe would “come to the rescue” if the U.S. were attacked. Rutte told Trump that NATO would back the U.S. as it had in past conflicts, such as the conflict in Afghanistan.
Gov. Gavin Newsom says he's been denied entry to a Davos event after pressure from Trump administration
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said on X that Newsom, a Democrat, has been denied access to an event where he was scheduled to speak today, accusing the White House and the State Department of being behind the move.
"Under pressure from the White House and State Department, USA House (a church acting as the official US pavilion) is now denying entry to @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom to speak with media after Fortune — the official media partner — invited him to speak," his office said.
Newsom reposted the message and wrote, "How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?"
USA House is hosting events at Davos tied to the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Its website says USA House is "privately organized and supported through private sponsorships that cover the practical costs of operating professional venues in Davos, from logistics, staffing, hospitality, and technical infrastructure to programming and enabling media coverage."
It adds that USA House doesn't represent the U.S. government and doesn't organize official government programming.
Reached for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly didn't deny Newsom’s accusation. “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California," she said.
The State Department and the World Economic Forum did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Asked for further details, Newsom's office directed NBC News to the posts by Newsom and his office.
According to an official with the governor's office, Newsom was invited last week by Fortune to participate in a fireside chat at USA House following Trump's address today. Newsom's office accepted the invitation two days ago, and then, around 3 p.m. local time today, a USA House official contacted Newsom's office to say it was canceling Fortune's event.
The USA House official said Newsom wouldn't be allowed to speak to the media at the American pavilion, claiming an "elected official" speaking did not "align with their afternoon programming," even though several top Trump administration officials spoke there earlier in the day, the official with Newsom's office said. Instead, USA House offered Newsom the option to attend a 10 p.m. "nightcap reception" for a drink, according to his office.
Trump mentioned Newsom in his speech at Davos earlier today and suggested he wants his administration to take action in California to combat crime.
Trump says Denmark's foreign minister will have to tell him 'to my face' if he rejects Greenland ambitions
Asked about the Danish foreign minister's rejecting negotiations with Trump on his bid to take over Greenland, Trump said the minister would have to tell him that directly.
"I don't like getting it secondhand," Trump said. "If he wants to tell me, he'll tell me that to my face."
Trump then said he did not know when he might discuss Greenland with the minister. He spoke ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
In his speech earlier today, Trump said he was "seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States."
Another reporter asked Trump ahead of the meeting with Rutte whether he was reassured by Rutte's telling him that European allies would be there for the U.S. if America were to come under attack — which Trump cast doubt upon during his speech.
"Well, I hope that that's true," Trump replied. "I mean, he's, he's a good man. He's never lied to me before."
NATO allies have invoked Article 5 only once, after the U.S. was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
Trump says he can tell some migrants are criminals by looking at them
Trump said in remarks at a CEO reception that he could tell that some of the migrants who have crossed U.S. borders were criminals just by looking at them.
"I don’t discriminate," he said. "But you can look at some people and say they’re criminals."
Trump did not describe what characteristics would determine on sight that someone was a criminal. His remarks came as he criticized the Biden administration's record on the border.
House Oversight to depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb. 9
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said today that his panel is set to depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb. 9 as part of its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Comer announced the scheduled deposition during a committee markup of resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt for defying subpoenas as part of the panel’s Epstein probe.
“We’ve been trying to get her in for a deposition, and her lawyers have been saying that she’s going to plead the fifth, but we have nailed down a date, Feb. 9, where Maxwell will be deposed by this committee,” Comer said.
Supreme Court skeptical of Trump’s attempt to fire the Fed’s Lisa Cook
Tackling an issue with huge ramifications for both the economy and the structure of government, the Supreme Court today appeared unlikely to green-light Trump’s attempt to oust Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook.
With Trump seeking to exert control over the central bank, which, among other things, sets interest rates, the case has taken on even greater importance after it emerged that the Justice Department is investigating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Ahead of Vance's visit, Minneapolis mayor says vice president should focus on ICE crossing 'constitutional lines'
In response to Vice President JD Vance's plans to visit Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey said he is free to come to the city but should focus on the escalating tactics of federal immigration officers there.
Vance is expected to travel to Minneapolis tomorrow amid growing political tensions between protesters and federal agents across the state.
“People are free to come to Minneapolis, including the Vice President — that’s how this country works," Frey said in a statement.
"But if the Vice President actually wanted to help, he should be focused on stopping federal agents from targeting and harming our neighbors in ways that clearly cross constitutional lines. That’s what Minneapolis wants," the mayor added.
Vance has been steadfast in his defense of ICE officers in Minneapolis following the killing of Renee Good. After the deadly incident earlier this month, he claimed without providing evidence that Good was "brainwashed” and suggested she was tied to a “broader, left-wing network.”
Speaker Johnson calls Democratic concerns over ICE's tactics 'irrational'
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters this morning that Democrats' concerns over ICE were "irrational."
Johnson, R-La., called Democratic opposition to an appropriations bill that would grant more funding to the Department of Homeland Security "unfortunate," adding that "ICE is a separate issue."
"Hey Democrats, if you have a problem with ICE, which many of them do, of course, irrationally, you should not take down the appropriations bill because there’s all these other areas of Homeland Security that are essential," Johnson said.
The speaker mentioned the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics, saying, "You need Homeland Security, every single American needs Homeland Security fully funded."
"This is not a game, and if anybody’s playing political games with that, they’re going to have to take it up with their constituents," Johnson said.
"We need to celebrate and not be looking over our shoulder, and that’s what DHS does for us, so I'm confident it will pass," he added.
Trump reiterates that 'the military is not on the table' to take Greenland
Asked by a reporter what prompted him to take military intervention off the table for Greenland, Trump reponded that "the military is not on the table."
"I don't think it'll be necessary," he said during remarks to the media at a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Trump added that he believed "people are going to use better judgment." European leaders have consistently rejected Trump's ambitions to take over Greenland.
The White House previously had not closed the door on military action, but during his speech earlier this morning, Trump said that he would not use force to take Greenland.
House Oversight Committee to depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb. 9
House Oversight Chair James Comer announced that Ghislaine Maxwell will be deposed by the committee Feb. 9. He made this comment during the panel’s meeting on whether to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress.
Her lawyers have made it clear she intends to plead the Fifth, Comer said.
In a letter to Comer yesterday, Marcus said Maxwell's "post-conviction litigation is far from over. Her habeas petition is pending and is being actively litigated."
Markus continued, saying that Maxwell will invoke her “privilege against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions. That is not a negotiating position or a tactical choice; it is a legal necessity. Testimony under oath while a habeas petition is pending would risk irreparable prejudice to her constitutional claims and expose her to further criminal jeopardy.”
The committee had intended to depose Maxwell last year but set aside plans after her lawyers said she would not answer questions. Comer at the time said it would be a waste of time and resources. It's unclear what changed.
Judge rejects ask for special master for Epstein files release
A federal judge in New York has rejected a request by two lawmakers to appoint a special master to oversee the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who's been overseeing Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal case, said he does not have the authority to appoint someone to oversee the release of files required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The law's authors, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had argued the move is necessary because the Justice Department had blown the Dec. 19 deadline to release all the files, and there have been issues with redactions in those that have been released so far. Their request was backed by several victims of the late convicted sex offender.
"The questions raised by the Representatives and the victims are undeniably important and timely. They raise legitimate concerns about whether DOJ is faithfully complying with federal law," Engelmayer wrote, but their "request for relief cannot be granted in this case."
“The Representatives have not articulated how the criminal statutes under which Maxwell was charged would empower the Court to enforce the EFTA,” the judge wrote, adding the more proper course of action would be for the lawmaker to either file a separate lawsuit or "to pursue oversight of DOJ via the tools available to Congress.”
In a statement, Khanna said, “We appreciate Judge Engelmayer’s timely response and attention to our request, and we respect his decision."
"We will continue to use every legal option to ensure the files are released and the survivors see justice,” his statement said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom says he didn't think Trump's threat of military force on Greenland was 'ever real'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an interview at Davos after Trump's speech that he never thought the president was ever serious about using military force to acquire Greenland.
"I don't think the military force was ever real in the first place," the Democratic governor told CNN after he was seen in the room watching Trump's speech.
"He was never going to invade Greenland," Newsom said, referring to Trump's remark during his speech that he would not use force to take over the Danish territory.
The governor called Trump's remarks "remarkably boring" and added, "Honestly, I was a little disappointed."
Newsome also said Trump made "Some jaw-dropping and remarkable statements that fly in the face of facts and evidence."
Mike Johnson discusses Louisiana Senate race
House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked this morning if he would support fellow Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow’s Senate bid, to which Johnson responded, “I have not had the chance to talk to Julia yet.”
Letlow announced yesterday that she is formally challenging Sen. Bill Cassidy for the seat. Johnson noted that he has not yet spoken with Cassidy either, and he also has other friends in the race.
“She’s been a great member of the House. I’m sure she’d be a great member of the Senate,” Johnson said.
Johnson wrapped up by saying his “attention is on the House” and he does not “typically get involved in Senate races.”
Trump endorsed Letlow in a Truth Social post over the weekend and she officially launched her campaign yesterday.
Ukraine, Russia are 'stupid' if they don't get a deal done, Trump says
During the Q&A after his speech, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin are "stupid" if they don't strike a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
"I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done, and if they don’t, they’re stupid," Trump said. "That goes for both of them, and I know they’re not stupid, but if they don’t get this done, they are stupid."
Trump said there was "abnormal hatred" between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, which was a major impediment to a settlement.
However, the president also said "we’re reasonably close" to a deal, as his envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Putin in Moscow tomorrow.
"What happens is, oftentimes, we’ll have a deal with Russia, Russia is set, and President Zelenskyy will not do it," Trump said. "You saw that when he was in the Oval Office. I was not happy. And then we’ll have President Zelenskyy wants to make a deal, and Putin doesn’t want to make the deal. It’s a very difficult balance."
Trump reiterated that he was going to meet with Zelenskyy later today, even though Ukraine's president's press office said he remains in Kyiv. It wasn't immediately clear if the two were going to meet online. Trump later told a reporter that he plans to meet with Zelenskyy tomorrow.
Trump says Hamas will be 'blown away' if it does not give up weapons
In the Q&A portion of Trump's remarks at Davos, Trump said Hamas would be "blown away very quickly" if it does not give up weapons as part of the agreement to end the conflict in Gaza.
"If they don't do it, they're going to have — they'll be blown away very quickly," Trump said. "They'll be blown away."
Trump's comments came in response to a question about whether he believed Gaza would be reconstructed and whether the U.S. would invest billions in the enclave.
Trump calls protesters in Minnesota 'professional insurrectionists'
During the Q&A session with the World Economic Forum president, Trump brought up the situation in Minnesota and claimed the protesters there are "insurrectionists."
Trump said without elaborating or providing evidence that the demonstrations are "fake protests done by agitators." He also called them "professional insurrectionists" or "professional troublemakers."
Trump said the administration plans to investigate alleged federal funding fraud in Minnesota.
Trump ends his speech at Davos
Trump just wrapped up his speech at Davos, speaking for around 70 minutes.
"The United States is back, bigger, stronger, better than ever before, and I'll see you around," Trump said as he closed his remarks.
Trump again denigrates Somalia, says 'the West cannot mass import foreign cultures'
Trump again railed against Somalia and Somali immigrants, arguing that Western countries cannot "mass import foreign cultures."
"The situation in Minnesota reminds us that the West cannot mass import foreign cultures, which are failed to ever build a successful society of their own," he said, referring to a federal benefits fraud scandal embroiling the state.
Trump denigrated people of Somali descent as "low IQ people" and "pirates." In recent weeks, he has frequently disparaged Somalia and migrants from the country.
Trump says the administration will help California combat crime
While talking about crime, Trump touted his efforts to reduce it in Washington, D.C., and suggested the administration will take action to combat crime in California.
“We’re going to help the people in California. We want to have no crime. I know Gavin was here," Trump said, referring to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. "I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president, Gavin is a good guy, and we’re going to if he needed it. I would do it in a heartbeat."
Trump said that his administration helped California early in his term.
"We would love to do it. I would say this, if I were a Democrat governor, or whatever, I would call up Trump, I say, 'Come on in make us look good,' because we’re cutting crime down to nothing, and we’re taking people out — career criminals who are only going to do bad things — and we’re bringing it back to their countries."
Trump teases new Fed chair in 'the not-too-distant future'
Trump said that he'll announce a new chair of the Federal Reserve in the "not-too-distant future," but added that he beieved that his nominees "change" once they start working.
"I’ll be announcing a new Fed chairman in the not-too-distant future. I think he’ll do a very good job," Trump said. "Everyone that I interviewed is great. Everyone could do, I think, a fantastic job. The problem is they change once they get the job."
That was an apparent jab at Chairman Jerome Powell, whom Trump nominated in his first term but has clashed with over Powell’s hesitancy to lower interest rates. Powell is currently under investigation by the Justice Department over costs for the renovation of Federal Reserve office buildings.
"They’re saying everything I want to hear, and then they get the job. They’re locked in for six years. They get the job, and all of a sudden, 'Let’s raise rates a little bit,'" Trump said. "It’s amazing how people change once they have the job. It’s too bad, sort of disloyalty, but they got to do what they think is right."
E.U. formally halts U.S. trade deal
The European Parliament is formally halting work on the implementation of the trade deal reached with Trump after his threat of new tariffs linked to Greenland.
In a post on X, Bernd Lange, the chairman of the Parliament’s international trade committee, said, “Now official: EU-US deal is on hold until further notice. Our negotiating team just decided to suspend work of @ep_trade on the legal implementation of Turnberry deal. Our sovereignty and territorial integrity are at stake. Business as usual impossible."
Trump says the U.S. 'will not become a nation of renters'
Trump said in his speech that the U.S. "will not become a nation of renters" as he talked about corporations buying houses.
"They buy 500 houses, they buy hundreds of thousands. They buy 500 houses. They can take depreciation," he said. "A person sweats and works and buys one house. They can, but homes are built for people, not for corporations and America will not become a nation of renters."
"We're not going to do that." Trump said. "That's why I have signed an executive order banning large institutional investors from buying single family homes. It's just not fair to the public. They're not able to buy a house."
Trump said he's calling on Congress to pass a permanent ban into law.
Trump: 'They called me Daddy'
Trump made a fond reference to being called "daddy" as a sign of his supremacy at NATO.
"They called me 'daddy' right last time, [a] very smart man said he’s our daddy. He’s running it," Trump said. "I was like running it. I went from running it to being a terrible human being."
In June, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte joked that “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language,” while pumping his fist, defending Trump’s use of an expletive.
"And now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection," Trump added.
Trump says U.S. will remember if Europe doesn't accept America taking over Greenland
Trump said in his remarks that the U.S. will remember if Europe doesn't accept his push to take over Greenland.
"We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won't give it. We've never asked for anything else, and we could have kept that piece of land, and we didn't," Trump said.
Trump said that Europe has "a choice."
"You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember a strong and secure America means a strong NATO, and that's one reason why I'm working every day to ensure our military is very powerful," he said.
Trump appears to mix up Iceland and Greenland in Davos speech
Trump has repeatedly said Iceland when appearing to talk about Greenland several times during his speech.
The mix-up seemed to start when the president told the audience at Davos that all he's asking for "is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection.”
"I'm helping NATO, and until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me," Trump said.
Trump says he doubts NATO would be there for the U.S.
Trump said he doubted that NATO would be there for the U.S. if needed.
"We’ll be there for them 100%, but I’m not sure that they be there for us," Trump said.
Article 5 of NATO stipulates that an attack on one NATO ally should be considered an attack on all. It was only invoked once, in defense of the U.S., after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Trump says 'Canada lives because of the United States'
Trump began talking about his planned "Golden Dome" defense system and said that "by its very nature," the system will defend Canada, too.
"Canada gets a lot of freebies from us — by the way, they should be grateful also, but they're not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn't so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements," Trump said, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump has repeatedly said previously that Canada should become part of the U.S. and he's been privately ramping up his focus on the country, NBC News reported a few days ago.
Trump says he will not use force to take Greenland
Trump said he did not want to use force to acquire Greenland but that if he did, the U.S. would be "unstoppable."
Speaking about NATO spending, he said, “We never asked for anything, and we never got anything, 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."
The White House has previously not ruled out military options for the U.S. taking Greenland.
Later, he said the U.S. wants ownership of Greenland "because you need the ownership to defend it, you can’t defend it on a lease."
"Who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease?" he said during his remarks.
Greenland is part of Denmark's territory, and Denmark is a NATO ally. NATO's Article 5 stipulates that an attack on one NATO country should be considered an attack on all. It has only been invoked in the defense of the U.S.
Trump again falsely claims that the 2020 presidential election was 'rigged'
While bringing up the war between Ukraine and Russia, Trump repeated his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged."
"It's a war that should have never started, and it wouldn't have started if the 2020 U.S. presidential election weren't rigged. It was a rigged election. Everybody now knows that. They found out, people will soon be prosecuted for what they did," he said, without elaborating further.
"Can't have rigged elections. You need strong borders, strong elections and ideally, a good press," he said. "I always say it — strong borders, strong elections, free, fair elections and a fair media. The media is terrible. It's very crooked, it's very biased, terrible, but someday it'll straighten out, because it's losing all credibility."
Trump says he 'inherited a mess' in Ukraine
Switching gears to Ukraine, Trump said he "inherited a mess" in Ukraine and reiterated his longstanding position that it's a war that should have never started and wouldn’t have started if he were president.
"I know Putin very well he and I would discuss Ukraine. It was the apple of his eye, but he wasn’t going to do anything," Trump said. "I said, flatter me. You’re not doing it. He would never have done it. It was terrible. What happened. I could see it happening too. After I left, I could see it happening."
Trump's difficulties in bringing an end to the war in Ukraine have been a point of frustration for him.
"It’s a bloodbath over there, and that’s what I want to stop," he added.
"I’m dealing with President Putin, and he wants to make a deal. I’m dealing with President Zelenskyy, and I think he wants to make a deal. I’m meeting him today. He might be in the audience right now, but they got to get that war stopped, because too many people are dying, needlessly dying, too many souls are being lost," Trump said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday he remains in Kyiv to deal with the energy crisis caused by Russia's strikes and was not going to Davos. It's unclear if those plans have changed.
Trump calls for 'immediate' negotiations over Greenland
Trump criticized Denmark's lower security spending with NATO, arguing that the U.S. alone could protect Greenland.
He also brought up developing and improving Greenland, though he did not detail what he was referring to.
The president then called for "immediate" negotiations to talk about the U.S. controlling Greenland. European officials have vehemently rejected his overtures.
Trump again calls for U.S. to take control of Greenland
Trump has pivoted to Greenland, the top pressure point going into the forum.
"I have tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark, tremendous respect," he said. "But every NATO ally has an obligation to be able to defend their own territory."
Trump continued, arguing that the U.S. was the only country in a position to secure Greenland. He invoked Denmark falling to Germany during World War II, adding that the audience would be speaking German or Japanese if not for the U.S.
Greenland is part of Denmark's territory.
Later, Trump said it was a "core national security interest" for the U.S. to control Greenland. The U.S. already has a military base on the island.
He pointed to Greenland's proximity to Russia and China and argued that the world now faced greater risks because of modern weapons of war.
Trump: Venezuela said 'let's make a deal'
All major oil companies were cooperating with the Trump administration on Venezuela, the president said.
"Every major oil company's coming in with us. It’s amazing. It’s a beautiful thing to see," he said. At a Jan. 11 meeting with oil majors, ExxonMobil Chief Executive Darren Woods said Venezuela was currently “uninvestable.”
Trump also said the leadership of Venezuela, which is practically unchanged after U.S. special forces snatched autocratic strongman President Nicolás Maduro, was working well with the White House.
"We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been giving. We’ve been giving great cooperation," he said. "Once the attack ended, the attack ended and they said, 'Let’s make a deal.'"
Trump criticizes European culture: 'They’re destroying themselves'
Trump criticized recent European culture, arguing that the continent was "destroying themselves."
"They have to get out of the culture that they’ve created over the last 10 years," he said. "It’s horrible, what they’re doing to themselves. They’re destroying themselves, these beautiful, beautiful places."
Trump rails against windmills in Europe
Trump railed against windmills in his remarks, a topic he's been fixated on for years.
"There are windmills all over Europe. There are windmills all over the place, and they are losers. One thing I've noticed is that the more windmills a country has, the more money that country loses, and the worst that country is doing," he said.
Trump claimed that China "makes almost all of the windmills" but said he hasn't found "any wind farms in China."
"Did you ever think of that? It's a good way of looking at this one. China is very smart. They make them. They sell them for a fortune," he said, adding, "They're shocked that people continue to buy those damn things. They killed the birds, they ruin your landscapes. Other than that, I think they're fabulous, by the way. Stupid people buy them."
Trump says Europe is 'not headed in the right direction'
In his remarks, Trump railed against the direction of Europe, saying that "certain places in Europe are not recognizable."
"It’s not headed in the right direction," he added, speaking to the room of European leaders.
The president criticized immigration, which is one of his frequent line of attacks against Europe. He slammed countries for bringing in migrants from different populations.
Message in the snow tells Trump to 'go home'
Reuters
A message in the snow read “Trump Go Home” as he arrived in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump begins remarks touting economy, criticizing Democrats
Trump kicked off his remarks by criticizing Democrats and touting the U.S. economy, which he credits to his tariff policies. He argued that when America's economy does well, the world economy also benefits.
Trump frequently rails against Democrats in his speeches before foreign leaders, a break from precedent.
Trump begins his remarks to world leaders in Davos
Trump has begun his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
His speech will focus on "America First" but may also discuss Greenland and Venezuela, according to a senior White House official.
President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum today. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP - Getty Images
Trump tariff threats spark fear of trade war, rattling investors
Trump’s new threats to escalate his trade war with European nations led to a major slide on Wall Street, resulting in its worst day in three months. NBC’s senior business correspondent Christine Romans joins "TODAY" to break down how the “Sell America” trade is impacting the markets.
China says it is not vying for global influence amid Greenland 'chaos'
China rebuffed the idea that it could benefit from the “chaos” in the West as Trump’s threat to seize control of Greenland shakes the long-standing transatlantic security alliance.
“We conduct friendly exchanges with other countries based on mutual respect and equality and stay committed to acting as a positive and stable force for good,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular briefing in Beijing. “We have no intention and will not compete for influence with any country.”
In editorials, however, Chinese state media outlets have argued the Greenland dispute shows that Europe is too dependent on the U.S., with the China Daily newspaper saying it should push the continent to enhance its strategic autonomy and “diversify its partnerships.”
“By doing so, Europe can ensure that its future is not dictated by the diktats of a bully, but is instead shaped by its collective interests,” it said.
Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, launches Minnesota Senate run
Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, has officially launched her run for Senate in Minnesota.
Tafoya does not mention Trump or her party affiliation in her announcement video, but she does refer to the fraud scandal and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations rocking the state.
“As Minnesota’s senator, I will clean up the system, fighting corruption, ending the fraud and protecting your tax dollars," Tafoya says. "I will protect what fair and safe, standing with our law enforcement officers, deporting dangerous criminals and keeping female sports for female athletes.”
Tafoya’s announcement was expected today after she filed paperwork yesterday establishing a Senate campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission.
The world has more than 3,000 billionaires and they're getting richer even faster under Trump, Oxfam says
The number of billionaires in the world reached more than 3,000 last year, with their collective wealth totaling a record $18.3 trillion, Oxfam said in a report released this week ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Their combined fortunes increased by 16%, or $2.5 trillion, in 2025, the British non-governmental organization said — three times the average annual rate in the five years before Trump returned to the White House. The group said the world’s richest people had greatly benefited under Trump, whose “big beautiful bill” last year included major tax cuts for the wealthy.
That acceleration is worsening global inequality, Oxfam said, with the collective $18.3 trillion fortunes of billionaires nearly equalling the total wealth of the poorest half of the world's population, about 4.1 billion people. The report noted that last year Elon Musk was briefly the first person in the world to have more than half a trillion dollars in wealth, even as hundreds of millions of people around the world face hunger and global poverty reduction stalls.
Elon Musk in the Oval Office in May. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The super-rich are also using their wealth to gain political power, including through elected office and media ownership, the group said, adding that there should be stronger “firewalls” between wealth and politics.
Economic inequality puts countries at greater risk of democratic backsliding and creates a gap in political power that is “highly dangerous and unsustainable,” said Amitabh Behar, Oxfam’s executive director.
“Governments are making wrong choices to pander to the elite and defend wealth, while repressing people’s rights and anger at how so many of their lives are becoming unaffordable and unbearable,” he said.
Supreme Court considers Trump’s attempt to fire the Fed’s Lisa Cook
Tackling an issue with huge ramifications for both the economy and the structure of government, the Supreme Court this morning considers Trump’s attempt to oust Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook.
With Trump seeking to exert control over the central bank, which, among other things, sets interest rates, the case has taken on even greater importance after it emerged that the Justice Department is investigating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Congress set up the Federal Reserve to be independent, so it would not be influenced by immediate political concerns in fulfilling its mandate to maintain price stability and low unemployment. Under the Federal Reserve Act, presidents are restricted from removing governors unless it is “for cause,” meaning there is evidence of wrongdoing.
Trump has said he wants to fire Cook for cause, over allegations of mortgage fraud made by one of his political appointees, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Cook has denied the allegations, and bank documents obtained by NBC News appear to contradict the fraud claim.
JD Vance heads to Minnesota amid deadly ICE shooting fallout
Amid ongoing anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, the Justice Department is issuing grand jury subpoenas to some of the state’s top Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz. and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey. Vice President JD Vance will reportedly visit the embattled city for remarks and a roundtable discussion with leaders and community members. NBC’s Maggie Vespa reports for "TODAY."
How Whip Tom Emmer helped Trump flip the Republican script on spending bills
Facing the first big legislative test of Republican control in 2025, Majority Whip Tom Emmer took it personally when Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democrats built a strategy that hinged on the House GOP’s failing to pass a government funding bill on its own.
“Bulls---,” Emmer, R-Minn., told his chief of staff, Robert Boland, according to two sources with knowledge of the remark. “We’re going to prove him wrong.”
For years, House Republicans had been notoriously divided over bills to keep the government open, with a rebel band of conservatives routinely splitting off and forcing leaders to cut deals with Democrats. In the weeks before the deadline, Emmer told members at conference meetings to be prepared to pass a spending bill on their own to keep the government open.
It was a tall order. The arch-conservatives routinely blasted those bills as betrayals of their promise to shrink the government and pay down the debt. Many had never voted for a short-term bill to fund the government.
This time, all but one of them caved after Republican leaders enlisted Trump to help twist arms. House Republicans passed their bill to keep the government open, even picking up a lone Democratic vote.
Democratic lawmaker to introduce bill to cripple DHS’ ability to detain immigrants
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., plans to introduce a bill today that would financially cripple the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to detain or monitor immigrants, even as she admits the bill won’t advance unless Democrats take control of the House.
The proposed legislation, a copy of which was first shared with NBC News, would bar DHS from using detention centers or contracting with new ones. It would then redirect that funding to cover health and human services in communities — primarily assisting with health care and housing, as well as other social services — particularly those affected by immigration enforcement now, Ramirez said.
“They believe that there’s no limit to what they could do — there’s no limit to their lawlessness and that as long as they’re masked up and the president continues to justify and call them heroes ... they can do anything,” Ramirez said in an interview.
NBC News has asked DHS for comment.
Trump’s threats force U.S. allies to grapple with a global ‘rupture’
LONDON — It’s the end of the world as we know it.
Far from feeling fine, however, America’s allies are increasingly reckoning with the idea that Trump’s actions mean the old global order isn’t coming back.
Trump will arrive at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today having completed a first year in office that was dizzying for America’s friends and adversaries alike.
President Trump walks toward Marine One to transfer to Davos after arriving in Zurich today. Evan Vucci / Associated Press
But the past few days have jolted Washington’s friends, now urging each other to adjust to a new reality in light of Trump’s aggressive campaign to take control of Greenland.
NATO chief says he is working ‘behind the scenes’ to solve Greenland issue
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in Davos today that he expects to meet with Trump to discuss “various subjects,” as he said he was “working behind the scenes” on the Greenland issue.
Speaking to a panel, he refused to comment on the tensions between Europe and Washington around Greenland, saying it makes it impossible for him to defuse them.
“That’s why you will not hear me comment,” Rutte said. “You can be assured that I’m working on this issue behind the scenes, but I cannot do that in public.”
Rutte reiterated his calls to do more to defend the Arctic and said he was “not popular” in defending Trump for his push for Europe to take greater ownership of its own defense.
Trump said yesterday he had meetings scheduled to talk about the future of Greenland in Davos and that he was confident he could reach mutually satisfying agreements with NATO, whose very existence has been threatened by Trump’s plans for Greenland.
Trump vows to wipe Iran 'off of the face of this Earth' amid threats
Trump threatened to "wipe" Iran off the earth if "anything happens," responding to a question from a News Nation reporter about his response to Iran’s leadership taunting and threatening him.
"I have very firm instructions: Anything happens, they're going to wipe them off of the face of this earth," Trump said, referring to Iran, during a News Nation interview that aired yesterday.
Damage to a local office building near Tehran today, following widespread protests in the Iranian capital. Amin Khodadai / NBC News
Trump made similar comments last year, telling reporters that if Iran assassinated him, the country would "get obliterated," the Associated Press reported.
The president is in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, where he is scheduled to make remarks this morning.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy to skip Davos
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that he would skip this year's World Economic Forum in Davos unless the U.S. was ready to sign an agreement on security guarantees for Kyiv.
"If I go — and I am sure our teams are discussing this — then there will be a meeting, and a meeting always comes with a result," Zelenskyy told reporters yesterday, as he said he was concerned about the world's focus switching away from the war in Ukraine and to Trump's threats to Greenland. "Of course, meetings with America must always end with specifics — concrete results either for strengthening Ukraine or for bringing the end of the war closer. And if the documents are ready, we will meet."
Zelenskyy said he was choosing to focus on the energy crisis in Kyiv precipitated by Russian attacks on the country's power grid as the capital and the wider region remain in the grip of severe power and heat outages.
"This is the top priority right now," he said. "Of course, in this case I choose Ukraine, not an economic forum."
Sunglasses and ‘a shift toward autocracy’: Why Macron made a splash in Davos
It wasn't just his blue aviators that made French President Emmanuel Macron stand out in Davos yesterday. Macron struck a defiant tone in his address to world leaders, calling out "bullies" and what he labeled a shift toward "a world without rules."
Donning the sunglasses due to what his office said was an eye condition, Macron sounded resolute, saying: "It’s clear that we are reaching a time of instability, of imbalances, both from the security and defense point of view, and economic point of view. Look at the situation where we are. I mean, a shift towards autocracy, against democracy."
French President Emmanuel Macron in Davos yesterday. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP - Getty Images
But he said it was also a shift toward "a world without rules," where he said "international law is trampled underfoot and where the only laws it seems to matter is that of the strongest. And imperial ambitions are resurfacing.”
His comments came after Trump threatened new tariffs against France yesterday and leaked a message from Macron, in which he said he did not understand what Trump was doing on Greenland.
"We do prefer respect to bullies," the French president said.
Trump touches down in Switzerland after delay due to Air Force One 'electrical issue'
Trump has just arrived in Switzerland ahead of his speech at the World Economic Forum later today.
President Trump disembarks Air Force One at Zurich Airport this morning. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The president’s plane touched down in Zurich later than scheduled after turning around because of what officials described as a “minor electrical issue.”
Members of the media gather as Air Force One lands on the tarmac. Arnd Wiegmann / AP
He is now due to travel by helicopter to Davos, where he is set to address world leaders at 8:30 a.m. ET amid mounting tensions with allies over Greenland.
Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow after 'very positive' talks in Davos
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Trump envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow tomorrow, the Kremlin confirmed this morning, a meeting Witkoff said the Russians asked for.
“Well, look, we have to go meet him on Thursday,” Witkoff told CNBC in an interview, referring to Putin. “But it’s the Russians who are asking for that meeting. I think that’s a significant statement on their part,” he added.
Witkoff said he had held a "very positive" meeting with his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev in Davos yesterday.
“Dialogue is constructive and more and more people understand the fairness of Russian position,” Dmitriev said after the talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, which has largely focused on Trump’s threats to Greenland rather than ending the war in Ukraine.
'We do not want to be Americans,' Greenland minister says
Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources Naaja Nathanielsen has said that Greenlanders were “bewildered” by Trump's threats to their homeland.
"This is an entirely new situation where an ally is threatening to annex or even occupy us," Nathanielsen told BBC News in an interview.
Naaja Nathanielsen in London on Jan. 13. James Manning / PA via Getty Images
“We do not want to be Americans, and we have been quite clear about that,” she said, adding that Greenlanders still want “collaboration and deep partnership” with the U.S.
World is experiencing a 'rupture,' Canadian leader says
The world is “in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” the Canadian prime minister said at Davos, adding that the “old order is not coming back.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney said yesterday that Canada, a member of NATO, stood with Denmark and its territory of Greenland and “their unique right to determine Greenland’s future” in the face of Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island.
Canada, a longtime U.S. ally, was among the earliest targets of Trump’s steep tariffs. Trump has also talked about making Canada the 51st state, and this week he posted on social media an altered map showing the U.S. flag superimposed over the U.S., Canada, Venezuela and Greenland.
Without naming Trump, Carney said great powers had recently begun “using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.”
He said fellow middle powers must work together, “because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
France asks for a NATO exercise in Greenland
France has asked for a NATO exercise in Greenland and is ready to contribute to it, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said today.
News of the request comes as Trump heads to Davos, where he is likely to use the World Economic Forum to escalate his push for acquiring Greenland.
Speaking in Davos yesterday, Macron said Europe would not give in to bullies or be intimidated, in a scathing criticism of Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs if Europe does not let him take over Greenland.
Denmark is 'irrelevant,' Treasury Sec. says, urging allies to wait and listen to Trump
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged European leaders who have gathered in Davos to "take a deep breath" and wait for Trump to arrive so they can listen to his arguments on Greenland.
"President Trump is serious here," Bessent said, speaking at the World Economic Forum this morning. "I would tell everyone, take a deep breath. Do not have this reflexive anger that we’ve seen, and the bitterness," he added. "Why don’t they sit down, wait for President Trump to get here and listen to his argument? Because I think they are going to be persuaded."
European leaders have thrown their support behind Denmark, which Bessent called "irrelevant."
Asked about the possibility that investors from Europe like Danish pension funds may pull out of the U.S. in light of the crisis, he said: “The size of Denmark’s investment in U.S. treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant.
In ritzy Davos, Trump to meet with world leaders he’s pressured over Greenland
The president arrives in Switzerland this morning with Europe on edge and the NATO alliance in crisis over his aggressive push to wrest control of Greenland.
Ahead of the trip, Trump feels “emboldened” by the U.S. military operation that ousted Venezuela’s repressive leader, Nicolás Maduro, a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump also is encouraged by the preliminary steps toward creating what he calls a “Board of Peace” to resolve various global conflicts, the official added.
China never sought a trade surplus, senior official says at Davos
China never deliberately pursued a trade surplus and hopes to become “the world’s market,” Vice Premier He Lifeng told the World Economic Forum yesterday, days after the world’s second-biggest economy reported a record trade surplus of almost $1.2 trillion.
China, which is exporting more goods to non-U.S. markets amid a trade war with Washington, is trying to increase domestic demand and also wants to expand imports, He said. “We never seek trade surplus; on top of being the world’s factory, we hope to be the world’s market too,” he said.
He, who is leading the Chinese government delegation in Davos, is seeking to present China as a reliable trade and investment partner at a time when Trump is alienating both allies and rivals with tariffs and military threats.
“The unilateral acts and trade deals of certain countries clearly violate the fundamental principles and rules of the World Trade Organization, and severely impact the global economic and trade order,” he said, without naming any specific countries.
What Trump said on Greenland before leaving for Davos
Trump doubled down on his threats to take over Greenland yesterday before he headed off to Davos.
Asked how far he was willing to go to take the Arctic territory from Denmark, Trump told reporters at the White House: “You’ll find out.”
He also voiced confidence that he would come to a mutually satisfying agreement on Greenland's future with NATO.
“I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy, but we need it for security purposes,” Trump added, reiterating his previous stance that the U.S. has to own Greenland to stop what he says is encroachment on the strategic territory by Russia and China.
Trump said Greenlanders will be “thrilled” when he speaks to them, despite clear opposition by the island’s residents to the potential American takeover.
A 'No Kings' message for Davos
An illuminated ‘No Kings’ sign is raised in the sky outside the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, late last night.
Trump 'about three hours late' to Davos, treasury secretary says
Trump is likely to be “about three hours late to Davos, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this morning, after the delay caused by “a minor electrical issue” with Air Force One last night.
The president is due to give a speech at the World Economic Forum later today at the forum, which has been heavily focused on his clash with Washington’s European allies over Greenland.
U.S. tariffs on Europe over Greenland would be a 'mistake,' E.U. chief says
It would be a “mistake” for Trump to impose tariffs on European countries that oppose his demand to take control of Greenland, the head of the European Commission said at Davos, adding that security in the Arctic “can only be achieved together.”
Trump has said that starting Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland will face new 10% tariffs until “a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” with duties increasing to 25% if a deal is not reached by June 1. All of them are members of NATO, the U.S.-led military alliance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg, eastern France this morning. Frederick Florin / AFP - Getty Images
“Arctic security can only be achieved together,” Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday. “This is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies.”
“The E.U. and U.S. have agreed to a trade deal last July,” she added. “And in politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”
Trump shares texts from leaders and vows ‘no going back’ on Greenland
“I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
That’s what French President Emmanuel Macron told President Donald Trump, in a private message shared online by the American leader yesterday.
The president did add a glimmer of diplomacy in his flurry of activity, announcing he would meet with “various parties” about Greenland on the sidelines of the gathering he is headed to in Davos, Switzerland.
U.S. forces seize seventh sanctioned tanker linked to Venezuela
U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela yesterday as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to take control of the South American country’s oil.
U.S. Southern Command said in a social media post that U.S. forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident” and that the tanker was operating in defiance of Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”
Images released by the U.S. Southern Command show the Motor Vessel Sagitta prior to being apprehended. @Southcom via X
The military command did not say whether the U.S. Coast Guard took control of the tanker as has been the case in prior seizures. Both the Pentagon and Southern Command said they had nothing to add when asked for more details.
Air Force One is forced to return after Trump leaves for Davos
Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, last night after the crew identified “a minor electrical issue” after takeoff, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
After landing, Trump was seen boarding a new, smaller aircraft that departed early today and was described by pool reporters on board as a smaller Boeing 757. It will take the designation Air Force One, according to protocol noted by the Air Force.
Air Force One on the tarmac after returning to Joint Base Andrews last night. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The plane with the electrical issue landed with Trump on board at 11:07 p.m. after having taken off shortly after 9:40 p.m. ET. Trump was on his way to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, when the plane was forced to return.
The president uses one of two custom Boeing 747-200B planes that the Air Force calls VC-25 aircraft. It’s not clear which experienced trouble last night.
