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Meet the Press

Meet the Press NOW — January 16

Meet the Press

NBC News

Congress, News, Washington, Political, Democratic Primary, News Commentary, Democratic Presidential Debate, Chuck Todd, Campaign, 2018 Midterms, Democrats, Republicans, 2020 Election, Elections, Road To 2020, White House, Nbc, 2018, President, Debate, 2020, Policy, Analysis, Politics, Public, Government, 2016, Russert, Meet The Press, Issues, Primary Election

3.83.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Trump doubles down on his demand that the U.S. acquires Greenland, while lawmakers travel to Denmark to try to reassure America’s allies and partners. In the latest installment of the NBC News’ Finding Common Ground series, anchor Savannah Sellers sits down with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to discuss their Kids Online Safety Act. Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Adam Ratner explains the surge in measles cases in South Carolina.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to meet the press now. I'm Kristen Welker in Washington, where U.S. and European officials are facing a once unthinkable possibility, a potential military conflict between the U.S. and a NATO ally.

0:21.9

On Wednesday, Danish officials said they were unable to dissuade the Trump administration

0:26.1

from seeking to conquer Greenland, a territory of Denmark.

0:29.9

And today, President Trump redoubled his demand that the U.S. take control of the territory

0:34.3

for national security purposes.

0:37.0

NATO has been dealing with us on Greenland. We need Greenland for national security purposes. NATO has been dealing with us on Greenland.

0:39.3

We need Greenland for national security very badly.

0:42.3

If we don't have it, we have a big hole in national security.

0:48.3

Now, that kind of rhetoric has been sending shockwaves throughout Greenland, Denmark, and America's NATO allies, even leading

0:55.1

to a military buildup in the Danish territory as several European countries deploy forces to the

1:00.7

region. Meanwhile, a group of U.S. lawmakers are in Copenhagen today to meet with members of the

1:05.2

Danish parliament trying to offer assurances that the U.S. broadly speaking does not support a takeover of Greenland.

1:11.9

My colleague Ryan Nobles spoke to some of those lawmakers about their message.

1:15.7

Take a look.

1:17.0

Part of the issue we've also heard is that this was a conversation a year ago.

1:22.5

After Venezuela, it's risen to a level of alarm.

1:26.4

The Danish leaders we've met with are saying,

1:28.4

help us understand what's the real goal here. Because if there's any policy goal other than

1:35.5

acquisition, we can work with you to Solomon. I would hope that the Greenlanders do not feel

1:42.8

that fear that you're going to have an armada all of a sudden

1:47.8

surrounding Greenland, that you're going to have the air contingent coming in and taking on Greenland.

2:01.6

Absolutely no threat to the United States. Going after NATO and undermining it from within

...

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