Trump on Greenland, 'You’ll find out': highlights from the White House briefing
President Trump used a one-hour White House briefing to defend plans for Greenland, preview his Davos speech and tout domestic wins, with a string of blunt lines and anecdotes.
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By Torontoer Staff
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters Tuesday in the White House briefing room to mark the first anniversary of his second term. The hourlong appearance ranged from a terse reply on Greenland to a recap of administration achievements, a Davos preview and several personal anecdotes.
Greenland and tensions with European allies
Trump repeatedly framed Greenland as strategically important to the United States and defended his efforts to secure ownership. When asked how far he would go to acquire the territory, he gave a short, pointed reply: “You’ll find out.”
You’ll find out.
President Donald Trump
The comments come as European leaders have pushed back against his threats of tariffs tied to Greenland, and as diplomacy over the issue will be a central topic when Trump attends the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. French president Emmanuel Macron called an emergency meeting of European leaders; Trump said he will not attend, noting Macron would not be in office much longer.
Davos, the Board of Peace and foreign policy posture
Trump said his Davos speech will emphasise what he described as the administration’s rapid achievements, in particular on affordability and housing. He also advanced the concept of a so-called Board of Peace, a proposal he has floated as an alternative or complement to the United Nations.
It might, the UN just hasn’t been very helpful. I’m a big fan of the potential, but it has never lived up to its potential.
President Donald Trump
He said the UN should be allowed to continue because of its potential, but suggested his Board of Peace could take on a larger mediating role, citing the Gaza ceasefire plan as an initial focus. He also criticised Britain’s plan to lease a military base on Diego Garcia and said he favoured continued U.K. ownership of the island.
Domestic priorities and a list of 'wins'
Much of the briefing shifted to domestic policy and a catalogue of administration actions. Trump presented a 31-page handout titled “365 WINS IN 365 DAYS” and repeatedly returned to themes of immigration enforcement, federal payroll reductions and regulatory rollbacks.
He claimed millions had been cut from the federal payroll and said many displaced workers found better jobs, citing an Office of Personnel Management estimate that the civilian federal workforce would be about 300,000 smaller by the end of 2025. He stressed the administration’s focus on removing criminal non-citizens while saying officials had “a lot of heart” for other migrants working in farms, diners and hotels.
Notable lines and anecdotes
The briefing included several off-script moments and reproducible lines that coloured the broader policy remarks. Trump displayed photographs of people arrested during immigration operations in Minnesota, repeatedly calling out the state. He also related a childhood memory while discussing plans to restore psychiatric facilities, and he staged a theatrical moment by dropping his packet of accomplishments on the briefing-room floor.
- On his relationship with Macron and U.K. prime minister Keir Starmer: he said they "get a little bit rough" when he is not around but treat him nicely when he is.
- On replacing or supplementing the UN: "It might," but he said the UN should continue because of its potential.
- On the Hells Angels: "I like the Hells Angels, they voted for me. They protected me, actually."
- On possible Supreme Court rulings about tariffs: "I don’t know what the Supreme Court’s going to do."
I like the Hells Angels. They voted for me. They protected me, actually.
President Donald Trump
He also criticised Norway and the Nobel Prize process after not receiving the Peace Prize last year, and he waved aside Norway’s prime minister’s assertion that the government does not control the award.
Legal and political friction
Trump defended his use of emergency powers to impose tariffs and described trade restrictions as tools that could be adjusted depending on legal outcomes. He acknowledged uncertainty about how the Supreme Court might rule on a pending challenge and warned that a loss could complicate repayment arrangements.
On domestic legal disputes, the administration has urged courts to reject efforts by Minnesota and its cities to block the surge of federal immigration enforcement there. The operations have drawn criticism after a series of arrests and an incident in which a U.S. citizen without a criminal record said he was detained at gunpoint.
What to watch next
Trump travels to Davos this week, where European leaders have said Greenland will be on the agenda. Observers will be watching whether the president repeats his tougher posture, defers to diplomatic channels or provides new specifics on his plans.
He left the briefing room after roughly an hour, having mixed formal policy points with unscripted remarks and personal asides. The session underscored that foreign policy flashpoints and domestic enforcement will remain central themes for the administration in the near term.
Donald TrumpGreenlandWhite HouseDavosinternational relations
