In a free-wheeling speech to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump made a series of contested claims. Trump touched on his desire to obtain Greenland from Denmark, which he referred to as a small ask, America's contribution to NATO, and wind energy in China. His address lasted for more than an hour and contained numerous false assertions that BBC Verify has examined.
For weeks, Trump has expressed a desire to acquire Greenland, stating it is crucial for U.S. national security. At Davos, he stated that after World War Two, we gave Greenland back to Denmark, claiming it was a mistake. In reality, Greenland was never American territory to return, as it has belonged to Denmark since a 1933 international court ruling.
Trump also criticized NATO, stating that the U.S. pays for virtually 100% of NATO, which is misleading. The U.S. accounted for about 70% of the total NATO spending recently, but contributions from other countries are increasing, with commitments to meet a 2% GDP contribution guideline.
Addressing China, Trump denounced wind energy, claiming he couldn't find any wind farms there. Contrary to this, China has developed large wind energy projects, including one of the largest wind farms in Gansu. Moreover, Trump's remarks regarding the UK's taxation on North Sea oil revenues were incorrect; while taxes are high, they are not nearly as exaggerated as he claimed.
Finally, Trump stated his administration secured investments totaling $18 trillion. However, this figure lacks substantial proof, as current tracks show commitments around $9.6 trillion. The actual outcomes of Trump's investment strategies will take time to assess fully.
