WASHINGTON − PresidentDonald Trumpsaid the U.S. will have "total access" to Greenland as a result of a deal he says he negotiated, and build as many military bases as it wants on the Arctic island.
The framework is still being negotiated, Trumptold Fox Business anchorMaria Bartiromo. But he said as he wrapped up a trip to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, "We will have everything we want. We're getting everything we want at no cost."
"I'm not going to have to pay anything. We're going to have total access to Greenland. We'll have all the military access that we want," Trump said.
President Donald Trump arrives in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF), on January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. The annual meeting of political and business leaders comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Europe over a range of issues, including Trump's vow to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Trump mingles with global leaders in Davos for World Economic Forum
President Donald Trump arrives in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF), on January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. The annual meeting of political and business leaders comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Europe over a range of issues, including Trump's vow to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Trump conceded the U.S. may not end up formally acquiring Greenland, which he had previously insisted upon.
"Well, I don't know if I could say that, but it could be. It's possible. Anything's possible," Trump said of U.S. ownership.
In the meantime, the United States is getting "total security" and "total access" to the Danish territory, with "no time limit" for America's military footprint there to end, Trump said. He also said theGolden Dome air defense systemthe United States is building will cover Greenland.
"We're getting everything we wanted," Trump said.
"I noticed the stock market went up very substantially after we announced it," Trump said. "But the details are being negotiated now. It will be very good."
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The emerging agreement that Trump said he brokered on Jan. 21 with NATO's secretary general in Davos represents a stunning climbdown for U.S. president, who used his address at the Swiss summitto berate America's allies.
He ruled out using military force to take control of the island in his speech. Still, he argued that Denmark should transfer ownership of Greenland to the United States. America has the means to protect the Arctic territory from foreign adversaries, Trump said.
The stock market reacted poorly to Trump's pressure campaign. TheS&P 500 index posted its worst dayin three months on Jan. 20. It rebounded after Trump announced on Truth Social that he'd "formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland" after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and backed off tariffs he said he'd be putting on European nations.
Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen breathed a sigh of relief after the announcement, saying in a statement, "The day is ending on a better note than it began."
"We welcome that President Trump has ruled out to take Greenland by force and paused the trade war with Europe. Now, let's sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark," he said.
A 1951 treatywith Denmark already allows the United States to establish or operate "defense areas" inside Greenland with the permission of the Danish government. The treaty allows the U.S. "to improve and generally to fit the area for military use," in collaboration with Denmark.
It was not immediately clear how the deal that Trump said he was negotiating would differ. The United States and Denmark previously announced the formation of a"working group"of high-level officials to discuss the dispute over Greenland.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump discusses Greenland deal, says US is getting 'total access'
