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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Until the U.S. Gets Greenland

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

The Wall Street Journal

Society & Culture, News

42.7K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Donald Trump says he'll impose new tariffs on eight European allies until Denmark agrees to cede the arctic island. But won't this only harden the opposition in Greenland, and what if the Supreme Court strikes down his "emergency" tariff powers? Plus, what does the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia have to do with it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Corporate megastores are spending millions lobbying DC politicians on one-sided policies that send small businesses tumbling.

0:08.0

They want to enact harmful credit card mandates that take resources away from your local credit union and community bank.

0:14.0

Leaving Main Street businesses with less access to credit, making it harder for your family to pay for everyday goods like gas and groceries.

0:22.9

Tell Congress to guard your card and oppose the Durban Marshall credit card mandates.

0:28.3

Paid for by Electronic Payments Coalition.

0:32.8

From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

0:38.9

President Trump threatens big tariffs on European allies that oppose his plan to take control of Greenland,

0:45.9

prompting world leaders to hastily schedule a meeting with Trump tomorrow in Davos, Switzerland.

0:51.3

Welcome, I'm Kyle Peterson with the Wall Street Journal.

0:54.0

We're joined today by my colleagues

0:56.1

on the journal's editorial pages, columnist Joe Sternberg, and editorial board member Kate O'Dell.

1:02.6

In a social media post Saturday, President Trump promised new taxes starting at 10% on imports from

1:09.7

eight of America's closest allies, including Denmark, Norway,

1:13.7

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. That, he said, would escalate to a rate of 25% in about

1:20.3

four months. Here is what the president wants. This tariff will be due and payable until such time

1:26.0

as a deal is reached for the complete and

1:28.7

total purchase of Greenland. The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over

1:33.3

150 years. Many presidents have tried in for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.

1:39.1

The president went on to say that what has changed in his view is because of the Golden Dome and modern-day

1:45.8

weapon systems, both offensive and defensive, the need to acquire is especially important,

1:51.5

unquote. Here is President Trump with more from his point of view, speaking to reporters on

1:55.5

Monday at the airport in West Palm Beach.

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