Greenland photo from UnSplash
A reader sent me the following from Donald Trump’s Truth Social about new tariffs against European nations that are not supporting his Greenland plans:
Donald Trump continues to make bold and inflammatory statements that are infuriating its European allies.
Pressure grows on the EU to deploy trade bazooka against Trump’s Greenland tariff threat
18 January 2026
Calls are growing louder for the European Union to deploy its trade bazooka against the United States after President Trump said he would impose fresh tariffs on Denmark and its European allies until it agrees to sell Greenland in an unprecedented escalation.
European leaders are coordinating their next move after the Trump administration threatened to slap a new 10% tariff on all products coming from eight European countries including Denmark, Germany and France, and suggested more retaliatory measures could follow until a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.
On Sunday, the eight countries led by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom said “tariff threats undermine the transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral” in a joint statement. …
The anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail through trade would allow the EU to restrict third countries from participating in public procurement tenders, limit trade licenses and shut off access to the single market.
The tool has never been used and, while it would severely impact US services and products, it could also come with geopolitical ramifications. …
The latest spat calls into question the European strategy of appeasement when it comes to Trump which has guided the EU Commission and the 27 member states until now. …
Trump’s latest threat shows the deal has done little to provide either and suggests Europeans will have to consider retaliatory measures after favouring a policy of de-escalation. And the tone is now switching. …
Former EU Commissioners Paolo Gentiloni and Cecilia Malmstrom, the brains behind the anti-coercion instrument during her tenure as trade chief under the first von der Leyen Commission, said the EU should deploy countermeasures next.
“It is getting ridiculous this constant threat of tariffs. Time for Europe to stand up. There are counter measures, including the anti-coercion tool. Greenland is not for sale,” she said in a social media post on X. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/01/18/pressure-grows-for-the-eu-to-deploy-trade-bazooka-against-trumps-greenland-tariff-threat
How events have unfolded after Trump’s Greenland threatpublished at 06:21
Less than 24 hours ago, US President Donald Trump upped his pressure campaign over Greenland and threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight European countries until “such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase” of the semi-autonomous territory.
If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of the latest developments:
- The eight countries singled out by Trump’s tariff threat issued a joint statement, warning that the US president’s plan risks a “dangerous downward spiral”
- In the statement, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the UK, France and Germany say they “stand in full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland
- Meanwhile, EU ambassadors are due to hold an emergency meeting later today https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1j8kw866p3t
‘Europe will not be blackmailed’, Danish PM says
After a joint statement from all eight countries targeted by Trump’s tariffs, we’ve just heard a further response issued by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“The Kingdom of Denmark is receiving great support,” she says, describing how she has been in “intensive dialogue” with allies including the UK, France and Germany.
“I am pleased with the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed,” she writes.
“At the same time, it is now even clearer that this is an issue that reaches far beyond our own borders.”
Swedish PM rejects US ‘blackmail’
18 January 2026
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has denounced US tariff threats, calling them “blackmail” against his country and its allies.
The comment comes in response to Washington hitting eight European NATO nations with import duties for opposing US President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland.
On Friday, Trump said he would impose a 10% levy on US imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1. He stressed that the tariffs would rise to 25% in June, and remain in place until a “complete and total purchase” of the Arctic island is achieved.
“We will not be blackmailed,” Kristersson wrote Saturday in a post on X, stressing that Copenhagen is currently discussing the matter with other EU countries, Norway, and the UK to coordinate a joint response. …
Trump’s move drew strong criticism in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron called the tariff threats unacceptable and promised a “united and coordinated” response. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the threats would harm transatlantic ties and reiterated EU solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. https://www.rt.com/news/631102-sweden-trump-greenland-tariff-blackmail/
For Trump, Greenland is about legacy — and humiliation
The president has infuriated NATO allies and left Greenland’s foreign minister in tears
18 January 2026 …
The president apparently got the idea of annexing Greenland from cosmetic heir Ronald Lauder, who seems to have a special interest in mineral deals both there and in Ukraine, and has been pushing Trump on the notion for years. …
Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt …. During an emotional interview with national broadcaster KNR about the meeting, Motzfeldt was in tears after describing the “increasing pressure” that accompanied Trump’s threats. https://www.salon.com/2026/01/18/for-trump-greenland-is-about-legacy-and-humiliation/
Notice also the following:
Danes protesting in Copenhagen against Trump’s plans to take over Greenland from Denmark
🇺🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/HcqxHzGQNz
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 18, 2026
Yes, even regular Europeans are incensed enough about this to hold huge public protests.
Donald Trump has greatly offended the Europeans on this matter. This is another unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s statements.
The Economist posted the following:
America’s hunger for Greenland is tearing NATO apart
Donald Trump could gain an island and lose a continent
AMERICA’S HUNGER for Greenland is setting off an explosive row within NATO. President Donald Trump, infuriated by European allies’ resistance to his effort to annex the autonomous Danish territory, said on January 17th that he would impose 10% tariffs on imports from eight European countries that had sent troops there two days earlier. European leaders vowed not to be bullied. https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/01/17/americas-hunger-for-greenland-is-tearing-nato-apart
Related to Greenland, Donald Trump, bullying, and Europe, here is something I posted here in January 2025:
Donald Trump’s foreign policy statements have unsettled many—in the USA as well as foreign nations. He is believed by many to be more unpredictable than Richard Nixon. Many have rightly pointed out that he often acts as a bully.
Greenland
There is also something referred to as the “law of unintended consequences.” There are consequences for the USA, Europe, and elsewhere that have and will occur because of Donald Trump’s statements and actions.
Consider, for one example, that after his reelection, Donald Trump stated that the United States needed to have Greenland for defense and economic purposes. Not only did that offend the governments of Denmark and Greenland, the Danish government then announced that it would greatly increase the amount of money it would spend on the defense of Greenland.[i]
On January 7, 2025, Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic actions to acquire Greenland.[ii] The next day, European leaders warned they would not tolerate an attack on Greenland and that the continent of Europe was strong.[iii] … One longer term consequence of Donald Trump’s rhetoric may be that the Europeans could decide that Greenland would be a useful place to conduct surveillance on the US and Canada.
Additionally, it is also possible that Greenland could be used as a base to 1) interfere with US military satellite communications, 2) possibly neutralize some US military moves in Greenland, or even 3) a place to also launch an attack against the US, Canada, and/or even the UK. The Bible teaches about a great power who will be destroyed by its friends, who become enemies (Lamentations 1:1-2)—some statements by Donald Trump are pushing “friends” (NATO allies) into being enemies. …
The USA will be attacked by “friends” consistent with the following:
1 How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!How like a widow is she,
Who was great among the nations!The princess among the provinces Has become a slave!
2 She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. cf. Lamentations 1:1-2).Notice the one who was “great among the nations” will be conquered by friends, who will become enemies.
The USA was prophesied to be “great” in Genesis 48:19 and is considered by international sources to be great among the nations of the world today.[v]
[i] Fouda M. Denmark to boost Greenland’s defence after Trump repeats controversial remarks seeking US ownership. Euronews, December 25, 2024
[ii] Trump threatens ‘very high’ tariffs on Denmark over Greenland. BBC, January 7, 2025
[iii] Germany, France criticize Donald Trump’s Greenland threat. Deutsche Welle, January 8, 2025
Yes, the Bible teaches about a great power who will be destroyed by its friends, who become enemies (Lamentations 1:1-2). Donald Trump offending the Europeans is leading to that.
Europe had basically no military interest in Greenland before Donald Trump.
Now, it is putting troops there and looks like it will use or build military bases there.
It also wants to deal with trade matters as Donald Trump tied additional tariffs in with his Greenland plans.
And prophetically, a more militarized Greenland could play a role in the prophesied destruction of the United States (cf. Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).
But, Donald Trump does not seem to know much about biblical prophecies, and there will be many negative unintended consequences of his statements and actions.
That said, related to NATO we put out the following video last month on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
There are bills being promoted by US politicians in both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives to have the USA leave NATO alliance by 2027. There is also the new National Security Strategy report from the Trump Administration which looks to change NATO. Europe is offended, but is preparing for this to take place. How so? By taking economic (expanding trade relations) and military (by increased spending and added troops) steps. And it is the military preparations by Europe that should most concern the United States. Dr. Thiel points out how the fragmented state of the European Union will lead to the reorganization of Europe (Revelation 17:12-13) which will ultimately bring about the rise of the prophesied King of the North (Daniel 11:39-43). Could a blitzkrieg type of an attack under the guise of a NATO-type exercise lead to the conquering of the USA? Scriptures quoted by Dr. Thiel point out that when this reorganization of Europe takes place, the destruction and enslavement of the United States of America, the nation with the strongest fortresses, is not far behind. Daniel 8:23 tells us this King of the North understands “sinister schemes”. Could one of those sinister schemes be the destruction of the United States? Are there other scriptures that confirm this destruction? Who is Assyria? Who is Samaria? Who is Ephraim? The answer is surprising but makes clear many scriptures that were sealed until the time of the end. The answer to the identity of Assyria, Samaria and Ephraim as referred to by the prophets Isaiah and Hosea is provided by Dr. Thiel in this video. Watch this video as Dr. Thiel shines the light of Biblical prophecy on the future of the United States of America and its British descended allies. Listen as Dr. Thiel explains the scriptures that prophesy the end of the United States by its friends, such as Lamentations 1:1-2. The time is getting closer.
Here is a link to our video: USA to leave NATO?
Donald Trump is succeeding in setting up the fulfillment of Lamentations 1:1-2.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic? Three related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency and Donald Trump and Unintended Consequences.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.