US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced President Donald Trump’s message on Greenland on Sunday, saying Europe’s “weakness” required US control of the island to prevent a “national emergency”.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Bessent defended Trump’s tariffs on some European countries that oppose Trump’s bid to claim Greenland, saying the decision was made to avoid a “hot war.”
Asked what the national emergency was that justified 10% tariffs on eight European countries that oppose Trump’s Greenland targets, a top White House official said “a national emergency avoids a national emergency.”
He described the tariff decision as “strategic”.
“It’s a strategic decision by the president. It’s a geopolitical decision, and he’s able to use the economic power of the U.S. to avoid a hot war,” Bessent told NBC.
The Treasury Secretary’s comments come a day after Trump vowed to impose tariffs on European Union members who oppose the US acquisition of Greenland, including Denmark, which has long been one of Washington’s staunchest allies.
Bessent called the US “the most powerful country in the world” and said taking control of Greenland was essential to winning the geopolitical chess match against Russia and China.
“The Europeans are projecting weakness. The US is projecting strength. The president believes that strengthening security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US,” he said.
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Europe will “turn around”, says Bessent
In justifying Donald Trump’s Greenland bid, Scott Bessent said he had not discussed with the president in recent days whether he was still interested in using emergency powers to justify the use of force to take Greenland.
European leaders would eventually “come around” to the idea of US control of Greenland, he added.
“I believe the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States,” he said.
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Why did Trump impose tariffs on the EU?
Scott Bessent has all but dismissed threats from the European Union to halt a tariff deal the bloc struck with the US last year, telling NBC News that the US president is using strategic leverage to get what he wants.
“First of all, the trade deal has not been finalized and an emergency action may be very different from another trade deal,” Bessent told NBC during the interview.
Trump said he was “using his emergency powers to do that.”
His comments came just before Trump’s foray into Davos, where he will be joined by the finance minister.
In his latest effort to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark – a NATO ally and EU member – Trump imposed a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries starting on February 1 and rising to 25% in June. The move sparked outrage among European countries and French President Emmanuel Macron called for the bloc’s most powerful retaliatory tool to be activated.
