U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy over territorial ambitions after posting a series of doctored images on his Truth Social platform that depict Canada and Greenland as part of the United States, just days before his appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
In a Jan. 20 post, Trump shared an altered photograph from an August 2025 Oval Office meeting with European leaders. The original image showed the president presenting a map related to the Ukraine conflict. The edited version instead displayed a map of North America overlaid with U.S. flags placed over Canada, Greenland, Venezuela, and Cuba.
In a separate post, Trump shared another image showing himself raising a U.S. flag in Greenland alongside Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The image included a sign reading, “Greenland, U.S. Territory, Est. 2026.”
The posts come as Trump prepares to join global leaders at the WEF on Jan. 21, where geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and global security are expected to dominate discussions.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire for the United States to acquire Greenland, citing “national security” concerns. He has argued that the Arctic island strategically located and rich in resources is vulnerable to growing interest from China and Russia, and that Denmark lacks the capacity to adequately defend it.
Trump’s remarks escalated after several European countries sent troops to Greenland for military exercises. In response, he announced plans to impose 10 percent tariffs on imports from those countries, rising to 25 percent on June 1, unless negotiations lead to what he described as the “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
“Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown,” Trump said in a Jan. 17 Truth Social post. “This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.”
On Jan. 20, Trump said he had a “very good” phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding Greenland and confirmed he would discuss the issue further with world leaders in Davos.
Trump’s recent posts mark a shift in tone toward Canada. After months of suggesting the country could become the “51st state,” the U.S. president largely dialed back the rhetoric following political changes in Ottawa.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau stepped down in early 2025, paving the way for Mark Carney to become Liberal leader and later win the prime ministership. The last time Trump publicly floated the idea of Canada joining the United States was during a Sept. 30, 2025, address to military officers in Virginia, where he said Canada could either pay to join the “Golden Dome” air defence system or “become the 51st state, and you get it for free.”
Trump also made a lighthearted reference to the issue during an October 2025 summit in Egypt, joking that mistakenly calling Carney “president” was better than referring to him as a “governor” a term he had previously used for Trudeau.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 20, Prime Minister Carney appeared to push back against growing U.S. pressure without directly naming Washington. He warned that “great powers” were increasingly using economic integration as a weapon.
“Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid,” Carney said. He stressed the need for greater national autonomy in energy, food, critical minerals, and trade.
His remarks come amid escalating trade tensions with the United States, which has imposed a wide range of tariffs on Canadian goods. In response, Ottawa has been seeking to diversify trade relationships beyond its southern neighbour.
Carney recently concluded a visit to China, where Canada agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100 percent to the most-favoured-nation rate of 6.1 percent on up to 49,000 vehicles annually. In return, Canada expects Beijing to ease tariffs on Canadian agricultural and seafood exports.
While Trump continues to frame Greenland as a strategic prize, Carney told the Davos audience that Canada stands firmly with Denmark and Greenland.
“Canada will continue to support Denmark and Greenland and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland’s future,” he said.
As world leaders gather in Davos, Trump’s provocative imagery and renewed territorial rhetoric are likely to add tension to an already strained global political and economic landscape.
