During his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump stated, Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German, a comment that many European leaders found insulting and historically inaccurate.
The speech reinforced Trump's longstanding narrative that Europe is straying off course, a message that elicited discomfort from European allies in attendance.
Despite relief over his ruling out military force regarding Greenland, European concerns remain heightened given Trump's consistent threats regarding tariffs and the acquisition of Greenland.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen noted that while Trump's comments on military force were positive in isolation, the underlying ambition for Greenland persisted.
Trump's speech further disparaged European NATO members, particularly Denmark, while he mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that European leaders are growing weary of his jesting at their expense.
As the EU prepares for an emergency summit to address these escalating tensions, there is an urgent question of whether Europe will respond with counter-tariffs or adopt a more diplomatic approach.
In his lengthy address, Trump boasted of his popularity at home, yet this sentiment is increasingly hard to find among European leaders who feel disrespected and threatened by U.S. policies.
