President Donald Trump escalated a public clash with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, tying trade threats and Arctic security to renewed discussions about U.S. control of Greenland.
"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 during his WEF speech in Davos, Switzerland.
"We're building a Golden Dome that's going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. 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."
Carney delivered a speech, which got a standing ovation, the day before, warning that the rules-based order is in "rupture" and urging middle powers to push back against coercion.
"We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland's future," Carney said.
Later Wednesday, Trump said he would not impose tariffs scheduled for Feb. 1 after what he called a framework for a Greenland and broader Arctic deal, and he ruled out using force.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was in the Davos hall, called Trump's address "remarkably boring" and "remarkably insignificant."
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, another possible Democrat presidential contender who was in Davos, said, "The speech was dangerous, it was disrespectful, and it was unhinged," according to ABC7 News.
Vice President JD Vance said in a recent Fox News interview, "We are going to make sure we defend America's interests. And I think the president is willing to go as far as he has to make sure he does that."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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