KEY EVENTS

What you need to know

Key points from Trump’s speech in Davos – From “Sleepy Joe” to immigration

• Opening remark: The U.S. president began his speech by saying:
  “It’s wonderful to be back in beautiful Davos, Switzerland, and to address so many respected business leaders — so many friends, a few enemies.”
• Message for Europe: “I love Europe, but it is not heading in the right direction,” the U.S. president said.
• One year in office: “Yesterday marked one year of our new administration with great results across all sectors,” he stated, referring to the economy and investments “galloping ahead” and to “secure borders.”
• Immigration: He said that America’s “open and dangerous borders” are now closed. He also claimed that the West imported migrants from faraway places to move manual labor jobs to cheaper hands.

During his speech, Trump confused Greenland with…Iceland at least 14 times!

Trump is now confusing Greenland and Iceland: "They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money." pic.twitter.com/Iu9CI6M2ku

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2026

Trump: I will soon announce Jerome “Too Late” Powell’s replacement at the Fed

Trump revealed that he will soon announce his long-awaited choice to replace the outgoing chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), Jerome Powell, whom the president has repeatedly criticized over interest rates.

The candidates who have been interviewed for the position are “excellent,” Trump said. The final contenders include former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and BlackRock’s Rick Rieder.

Trump added that he fears the next Fed chair could change course once approved. “They get the job and suddenly they say, ‘Let’s raise interest rates a little,’” he said.

“Right now we have a terrible chairman, Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell,” said Trump, who selected him to lead the central bank in 2017. “We will have someone who is excellent, and hopefully he will do the right job.”

21/01/2026 16:58
Trump’s speech in Davos lasted about one hour and ten minutes.

21/01/2026 16:53
“We gave Greenland back to Denmark,” Trump said — but did the Arctic island ever belong to the U.S.?

During his speech, Donald Trump repeated the unfounded claim that the United States returned Greenland to Denmark after World War II.

“We already had it as a trustee, but we respectfully gave it back to Denmark some time ago,” the U.S. president said. However, it should be noted that the United States has never owned this autonomous territory. It has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries, a fact established under international law and recognized by the U.S.

Although the United States established military bases in Greenland (through a security agreement with Denmark during the war) during World War II, it never acquired sovereignty over the territory.

In 1946, then-President Harry Truman secretly proposed buying Greenland, but the offer was ultimately rejected by the Danes.

21/01/2026 16:52
Trump has been speaking for more than an hour, exceeding the scheduled time by 20 minutes.

Trump spoke from the podium of the World Economic Forum for more than an hour, exceeding his allotted time by about 20 minutes.

After opening with references to his achievements during his term, most of his speech focused on his desire to acquire Greenland.

21/01/2026 15:39
Trump’s speech has started

“It is wonderful to be back in the beautiful Davos, Switzerland, and to address so many respected business leaders — so many friends, some enemies,” Trump emphasized at the start of his speech.

21/01/2026 14:50

LIVE: Trump arrives in Davos

21/01/2026 15:27
Danish Prime Minister to visit the UK
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, will visit the United Kingdom on Thursday for talks, according to her British counterpart, Keir Starmer, emphasizing that the UK will not “back down” on the Greenland issue.

21/01/2026 15:20
What Trump will address in his speech
In his speech in Davos, Donald Trump will touch on Greenland, Venezuela, and the state of the U.S. economy, according to a senior White House official who spoke to journalists aboard Air Force One.

During his stay in Davos, he will hold a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders.

According to the official, on Thursday the U.S. president will focus on his initiative for a “Peace Council” in Gaza, part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, which includes transitional oversight and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

21/01/2026 15:17
Trump arrives in Davos – Watch video
The U.S. president arrived around 15:00 Greek time in Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum, after a delay caused by a problem with the first plane that was to transport him to Switzerland.

Watch video:

See a photo of the helicopters that transported Trump and his team to Davos:

21/01/2026 15:07
Trump travels with a 20-member entourage for his first Davos appearance in six years
The U.S. president is accompanied by about 20 staff members.

Among them are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, who were seen exiting Air Force One after it landed in Zurich.

21/01/2026 15:05
All the background on Trump’s Peace Council
The Peace Council was initially proposed as part of the Gaza peace plan and is included in UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on Gaza. It was accepted, albeit with reservations, by all countries participating in the Sharm el-Sheikh Conference.