By The Canadian Press

Trump says Carney is not ‘grateful’ in Davos speech

Jan 21, 2026 | 7:23 AM

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Mark Carney is not “grateful” after the prime minister warned an international audience that the world has entered a dangerous new age of great power rivalries.

During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said he heard Carney’s Tuesday speech, which was widely praised around the world. The president said “Canada gets a lot of freebies from us” and should be thankful.

“I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful,” Trump said. “But they should be grateful to us. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

While Carney’s speech — which drew a standing ovation at the elite annual international forum — never mentioned Trump by name, the prime minister warned the old world order is dead and urged middle powers to band together as larger ones try to pressure them through economic coercion.

Trump’s comments about Carney came as the president mentioned his “Golden Dome” plan for a missile defence shield. He previously said it would cost Ottawa $61 billion to join — all while insisting that Canada should become the “51st state.”

The president’s latest dig at Carney came as no surprise to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who noted it was disappointing to see Trump post an image on social media with the American flag superimposed over Canada and Greenland earlier this week.

“That’s typical President Trump,” Ford told reporters in Toronto. “He goes out on the attack constantly.”

The premier faced the president’s anger in October over a TV ad purchased by his government quoting former president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Blowback over the ad led Trump to freeze trade talks with Canada.

World leaders have struggled to respond to an increasingly unstable United States. Trump’s volatile tariff policies and threats against other countries’ sovereignty have upended traditional alliances and spread doubt about the United States’ commitment to NATO.

The president’s comments about taking Greenland have rattled America’s allies and overshadowed the Davos forum.

Trump had said he would hit Denmark and other European countries with tariffs if they did not sign over Greenland to the United States. He walked back that threat in a social media post Wednesday — the same day Europe suspended approval of a trade deal reached with the U.S. last summer.

In the post, Trump said he had a productive meeting with NATO Sec. Gen. Mark Rutte and claimed they “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic region.” He said they are having discussions about “The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland.”

When asked if comments about the “entire Arctic region” included Canada, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in an email to The Canadian Press that “the details of the framework will continue to be unveiled as discussions continue.”

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said Rutte and Trump “discussed the critical significance of security in the Arctic region to all allies, including the United States.”

“Discussions among NATO allies on the framework the President referenced will focus on ensuring Arctic security through the collective efforts of allies, especially the seven Arctic allies,” Hart said in an emailed statement. “Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold — economically or militarily — in Greenland.”

During Wednesday’s rambling speech, Trump ruled out using the military to take the autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark but insisted he wants Greenland, “including right, title and ownership.”

Trump has also linked his expansionist desires to his displeasure over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

In a stark warning to NATO, Trump told the forum that members of the military alliance can approve of the United States seizing Greenland “and we’ll be very appreciative. Or you can say, ‘No,’ and we will remember.”

Trump mistakenly named Iceland instead of Greenland repeatedly during the speech.

Danish officials and European leaders have been clear the United States taking Greenland against its citizens’ wishes is a red line they are unwilling to cross.

Carney also met with Rutte Wednesday and they both “reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark, including Greenland,” according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2026.

— with files from Allison Jones in Toronto and The Associated Press

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press