Can Denmark convince Trump not to “conquer” Greenland?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 January 2026
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
There are two big stories on today’s episode. What happened when foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House? We discuss their “frank” talks and “fundamental disagreements”.
Plus, the world’s top central banker Jerome Powell has hit back at the US president in an unprecedented video statement on social media. It follows the Trump administration opening a criminal investigation against Jerome Powell, chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Over the past year the president has insulted Powell publicly, criticising his decisions not to cut interest rates, as well as calling the Fed chair "Mr Too Late", a “major loser” and a "numbskull".
Justin, Sarah and Anthony explain why it matters and the impact this very public spat could have on the US and global economy.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, George Dabby, Alix Pickles, and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, we've got two very big stories playing out today. |
| 0:09.7 | First off, important talks about the future of Greenland. |
| 0:13.0 | The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland have come here to Washington, D.C. for some talks at the White House. |
| 0:19.1 | How did they go? |
| 0:20.3 | We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agreed to disagree. |
| 0:25.2 | There was another extraordinary moment this week, another disagreement, when the world's top |
| 0:29.7 | central banker, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, made a video statement basically calling |
| 0:35.6 | out Donald Trump. |
| 0:37.1 | Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. |
| 0:41.7 | I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity and a commitment |
| 0:47.5 | to serving the American people. |
| 0:49.3 | That was Jerome Powell there, breaking the news that a criminal investigation has been launched into him |
| 0:54.8 | by the Trump administration and basically saying he thinks that this is entirely politically motivated |
| 1:00.8 | because he hasn't done what President Trump wants him to and lower interest rates. Therefore, |
| 1:05.8 | Trump is using the Justice Department against him. Now, that is a very big deal and we will |
| 1:10.7 | explain exactly why. |
| 1:12.5 | Welcome to AmeriCast. Americaast. America from BBC News. When Donald Trump calls, they say, |
| 1:20.7 | yes, sir, right away, sir. Happy to lick your boot, sir. We are the sickest country in the world. |
| 1:26.9 | Oh dear. Are you worried that billionaires |
| 1:29.0 | are going to go hungry? Of course the president supports peaceful protest. What a stupid question. |
| 1:33.5 | Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? |
| 1:42.7 | Hello, it's Sarah here in the BBC's Bureau in Washington. And it's Anthony, right next to Sarah here in Washington, D.C. And it's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of America, in London, England. I mean, we should say before we start, it's late. At least as late for me, it's after half a half of six in the evening, which, you know, I mean, it's fine for you guys, because it's it's still the middle of the day. But for me, it's not. But there is a reason why we're doing it slightly late, because there is an awful lot to get to. And some of it has yet to happen or is happening as we're on. So we're doing the right thing. Before we get into Jerome Powell and Donald Trump, we should say that one of the other things |
... |
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