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Trump Claims Europe Would Speak German and Japanese Without US WWII role,Revives Greenland Bid
Former US President Donald Trump asserted that European nations would currently be speaking German and Japanese were it not for American leadership during World War II. He raised this historical argument while attempting to justify his past interest in acquiring Greenland.
“After the war – wich we won, we won big, without us, right now, you’d all be speaking German and maybe a little bit of Japanese,” Trump stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 26, 2026, as reported by Reuters.
Trump defended his previous pursuit of greenland by pointing to Denmark’s swift defeat during WWII. He claimed that Copenhagen fell to German forces within six hours, rendering Denmark incapable of defending itself or greenland. This claim echoes statements he made in 2019, when he publicly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, an idea strongly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland.
“We really built a base in Greenland for Denmark. We fought for Denmark,” Trump said, adding that the US acted to prevent “enemies” from establishing a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. NBC News reported on the comments.
Strategic Interest in Greenland
Greenland’s strategic location in the Arctic, its abundant mineral resources, and growing concerns about increased activity from Russia and china have consistently fueled Trump’s interest in the territory.The Council on Foreign Relations details the geopolitical