Trump explodes at Denmark PM in 'aggressive' phone call over Greenland
UPDATED: 10:25 GMT, 25 January 2025
Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of aggression in a 'horrendous' 45-minute phone call with Denmark's Prime Minister as the pair discussed the fate of Greenland.
The confrontation has been described by senior officials as 'explosive' and centered on the President's insistence the country was critical for national security.
The call, which took place on January 15, five days before he became Commander-in-Chief spiraled into an unprecedented diplomatic clash.
Trump, 78, reportedly threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark, a NATO ally, as a way of pressuring Mette Frederiksen, 47, to acquiesce to his territorial ambitions.
According to sources as revealed to the Financial Times, the conversation raised concerns that Trump is actually serious about possible military action.
'It was horrendous. He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous,' the source said.
The call showcased Trump's determination to push American interests in the Arctic, a region he views as a critical battleground for global power competition with China and Russia.
'We are open for business, but we're not for sale,' Greenland's foreign minister Ane Lone Bagger told Reuters.