Trump keeps calling Greenland ‘Iceland’ during Davos speech

President Trump repeatedly mislabeled Greenland as “Iceland” during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, creating a moment of diplomatic confusion that quickly caught the attention of international observers.

Speaking to the gathered assembly of world leaders, business executives, and policy experts, Trump referenced ongoing American interest in the Arctic region, but stumbled when discussing the strategic importance of Greenland, Denmark’s autonomous territory.

“We’ve been looking very closely at Iceland’s position in the Arctic. Iceland has tremendous strategic importance, tremendous resources beneath the ice,” Trump stated, before continuing to refer to Greenland as Iceland at least three more times throughout his remarks.

The gaffe comes less than six months after Trump’s controversial proposal to purchase Greenland from Denmark made headlines worldwide. In August 2019, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the purchase idea “absurd,” leading Trump to cancel a planned state visit to Denmark shortly thereafter.

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is an autonomous Danish territory with a population of about 56,000 people. It has gained increased geopolitical significance in recent years due to its strategic location, mineral resources, and the effects of climate change opening new shipping routes through the Arctic.

Iceland, by contrast, is an independent sovereign nation with approximately 360,000 citizens and a parliamentary democratic system. The two territories, while both located in the North Atlantic, have distinct histories, governments, and international statuses.

Danish officials in attendance at Davos appeared visibly uncomfortable during the misidentifications but refrained from immediate public comment. One Danish delegate, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the error “disappointing but not entirely surprising given the administration’s previous handling of Nordic affairs.”

The confusion highlights ongoing tensions surrounding American Arctic policy. The Trump administration has shown increasing interest in the region as melting ice caps create new opportunities for resource extraction and maritime navigation, while also opening vulnerabilities in North American defense.

“This kind of basic geographic error undermines American credibility when discussing Arctic policy,” said Dr. Marjorie Lindstrom, director of Arctic Studies at the Brookings Institution. “Whether intentional or not, repeatedly misidentifying a territory that was recently at the center of a diplomatic dispute sends a troubling message to allies about America’s attention to detail in foreign affairs.”

The White House press office later issued a brief statement acknowledging that the president had been referring to Greenland throughout his remarks, attributing the error to “a simple verbal slip during an extensive foreign policy discussion.”

The incident comes at a sensitive time for U.S.-Nordic relations. Beyond the Greenland purchase controversy, Trump has previously criticized NATO allies, including Denmark, for not meeting defense spending commitments. Meanwhile, both Russia and China have been increasing their own Arctic presence, making Western solidarity in the region increasingly important.

Market analysts noted that the confusion had no immediate impact on trade relations, though some speculated it could affect future negotiations around mining rights in Greenland, where several American companies have expressed interest in rare earth mineral deposits.

Greenlandic officials, who have been seeking to balance increased international attention with preservation of their autonomy, offered no immediate response to Trump’s mischaracterization.

This is not the first time geographical confusion has created diplomatic awkwardness for the administration. In previous international forums, the president has made similar errors regarding Baltic and Balkan states, occasionally mixing up country names or their relationships with international organizations.

As the Davos forum continues through the week, both Greenlandic and Icelandic representatives are scheduled to participate in panels on climate change and Arctic development, topics that have taken on increased urgency as warming temperatures transform the region’s environment and economic potential.