It finally happened. After months of rumors and side-eye from European diplomats, President Donald Trump just pulled the trigger on a massive trade ultimatum over Greenland. Honestly, if you thought the first year of his second term was going to be quiet, Saturday morning’s Truth Social posts probably ended that dream.
Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight European nations today. Why? Because they’re standing in the way of his plan for the United States to acquire Greenland. He isn't messing around this time; he’s calling it a "Complete and Total purchase."
Why Donald Trump latest news today centers on a 10% tariff
Basically, the President is using the U.S. economy as a sledgehammer to get a real estate deal done. The targeted countries aren't just random ones either. We’re talking about Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.
Starting February 1, 2026, goods from these nations will hit a 10% tax wall at the border. If a deal for Greenland isn't signed by June 1, that rate jumps to 25%. It’s a classic Trump "Art of the Deal" move, but applied to international sovereignty.
The President claims these countries "journeyed to Greenland for purposes unknown." That’s a direct shot at NATO allies who recently sent symbolic troop detachments to the island for training. Trump sees Greenland as the cornerstone of his "Golden Dome" missile defense system. In his view, if the U.S. doesn't own it, China or Russia will.
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The view from the ground in Nuuk
While the President was posting from his golf club in West Palm Beach, people in Greenland were literally marching through the streets. In the capital, Nuuk, hundreds of protesters braved freezing rain and icy sidewalks. They weren't just holding signs; they were singing traditional songs and waving the red-and-white Greenlandic flag.
One sign stood out to me: "Greenland is already GREAT." It’s a cheeky flip of the MAGA slogan, but the sentiment is dead serious. These folks don't see themselves as a piece of real estate to be traded between empires.
Is this even legal?
This is where things get kinda messy. The U.S. Supreme Court is already looking at whether the President has the authority to slap these kinds of tariffs on allies without Congress. Analysts from the Budget Lab at Yale pointed out that the average effective tariff rate in the U.S. is already at 16.8%—the highest it’s been since the 1930s.
European leaders are furious. Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, called the threat "completely wrong." Denmark’s Major General Søren Andersen says he doesn't expect a NATO ally to actually attack another, but he did remind everyone that Danish law requires their soldiers to fight back if fired upon. That’s a level of tension we haven't seen in decades.
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Beyond the Arctic: Milk and Power Plants
It’s not all about the North Pole, though. Earlier this week, Trump was busy with domestic stuff that’s actually making its way into schools right now. He signed the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act" alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ben Carson.
The logic? They’re tossing out the old low-fat guidelines. They want full-fat dairy back in the lunchroom.
Then there’s the "National Energy Emergency." The administration is pushing PJM Interconnection—the group that manages the grid for the Mid-Atlantic—to overhaul their market rules. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the goal is to build $15 billion worth of new baseload power plants. They want tech companies to pay for them, specifically to fuel the massive data centers needed for the AI race.
What happens on January 20?
We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of the second inauguration. While the President is looking at Davos and Switzerland for his next trip, activists are planning a "Free America Walkout."
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Organizers like the Women’s March say they have over 600 events scheduled for 2:00 PM on Tuesday. It’s a weird split-screen reality. On one side, you’ve got a President threatening to tax the UK and France into submission over a giant island of ice; on the other, you’ve got thousands of people planning to walk out of work to protest ICE raids and healthcare changes.
Quick breakdown of the 2026 Greenland Ultimatum:
- The Countries: Denmark, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden.
- The Deadline: Feb 1 (10% tariff), June 1 (25% tariff).
- The Goal: The "Complete and Total" purchase of Greenland.
- The Pushback: Massive protests in Nuuk and Copenhagen; legal challenges in the US Supreme Court.
Surprising details you might have missed
Most people don't realize that Trump actually bought $1 million in Netflix and Warner Bros bonds just a few days ago. He’s mentioned he wants to be "involved" in media mergers. It’s a small detail compared to a trade war with Europe, but it shows how much he’s keeping his hands in the business world even while running the country.
Also, his campaign manager quietly dropped a defamation suit against the Daily Beast this morning. It seems the administration is clearing the decks of old legal baggage to focus on these new, much larger fights.
What you should do now
If you’re worried about how this affects your wallet, start looking at European-made goods you usually buy. If these tariffs go through on February 1, anything from German cars to French wine and UK-manufactured machinery is going to get more expensive.
Keep an eye on the Supreme Court. Their ruling on tariff authority, which could come as early as next week, will determine if the Greenland ultimatum is a real economic threat or just a high-stakes bluff. For now, the administration is moving full steam ahead, and the "Golden Dome" defense remains the top priority on the President's desk.
Check your local news for walkout locations on January 20 if you plan to participate in the anniversary protests, or if you just need to know which roads will be blocked off during the rallies.