California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday slammed European leaders’ response to the growing crisis over Greenland, saying they must stand up to President Donald Trump as he threatens to take over the Danish territory.
“This guy’s playing folks for fools. They need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united,” Newsom said. “This guy’s a wrecking ball. I hope people are waking up to what we’re dealing with.”
Newsom spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an annual event that draws world and corporate leaders. Trump also attended, declaring on Wednesday that he is dropping his threat to impose tariffs on several European countries, citing what he described as a new framework with NATO on Arctic security.
Trump has called for the United States to purchase Greenland, and has threatened the use of military force, even though Denmark is a member of NATO, along with the United States. On Tuesday, he told the Davos gathering the U.S. would not use force to pursue control of Greenland.
Newsom, who is a likely candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028, warned that Europe can’t count on diplomacy to end the crisis.
“Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T-Rex,” Newsom said. “You mate with him, or he devours you.”
Criticism of Trump’s threats to Greenland has also been growing among Republicans. The conservative Wall Street Journal accused Trump of “bullying imperialism” in an editorial on Tuesday.
“No one should underestimate the shock his Greenland project is producing among allies. Along with his tariffs and his tilt toward Russia against Ukraine, he is alienating Western Europe in a way that will be hard to repair,” the Journal wrote.
Greenland is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark, which has granted the U.S. extensive use of the island for military bases.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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