'I don't recognise it': At Davos, Trump says 'Europe not heading in the right direction' amid Greenland tensions

President Trump criticized Europe’s immigration and economic policies, claiming parts are “not even recognizable,” and linked these issues to US negotiations over Greenland. He also rebuked Canada’s Prime Minister, stressing US commitment to strong Western alliances.

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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered a sharp rebuke of Europe, telling a packed hall of European officials that large parts of the continent were “not even recognizable,” as tensions between Washington and European capitals continue to rise.

“We can argue about it, but there’s no argument,” Trump said. “Friends come back from different places -- I don’t want to insult anybody -- and say, ‘I don’t recognise it.’ And that’s not in a positive way. That’s in a very negative way.”

Trump blamed Europe’s troubles on immigration and economic policy, contrasting them with what he described as an American “economic miracle.” “I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” he said, pointing to “increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports.”

The remarks came amid mounting criticism from global leaders over Trump’s push to bring Greenland under US control. His stance has unsettled markets and allies alike, and was a recurring topic of discussion at Davos. Trump said his administration would pursue “immediate” negotiations over Greenland but ruled out the use of military force, something he had earlier declined to clarify.

Despite his sharp words, Trump insisted Washington remained committed to its relationship with Europe. “We believe deeply in the bond that we share with Europe,” he said, arguing that “issues like energy, trade, immigration and economic growth must be central concerns to anyone who wants to see a strong and united West.”

Trump accused European governments of undermining themselves through policy choices made over the past decade. “They have to get out of the culture that they’ve created over the last 10 years. It’s horrible what they’re doing to themselves. They’re destroying themselves, these beautiful, beautiful places,” he said.

“We want strong allies, not seriously weakened ones. We want Europe to be strong,” Trump added, linking the debate directly to Greenland. “Ultimately, these are matters of national security, and perhaps no current issue makes the situation more clear than what’s currently going on with Greenland.”

Trump also took aim at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, responding to Carney’s Davos warning that the “old order is not coming back” and that “nostalgia is not a strategy.” Carney had described a new global system marked by “intensifying great power rivalry” and the use of economic integration as coercion.

Trump bristled at those remarks. “Canada gets a lot of freebies from us by the way. They should be grateful also but they are not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful,” he said.

“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”