All the most unhinged things that have happened in Trumpworld in the last 24 hours – as Trump squares up against Europe over Greenland
A lot of questions are going to be asked about how we let it get to this point. Donald Trump today told eight European allies he planned to impose tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from their countries if they don’t let him buy Greenland. Those tariffs will, presumably be on top of the 10% base tariff and any other tariffs that apply to certain goods. That’s how his retaliatory tariffs have worked before.
It took more than three hours before the UK gave its response to the threat, coming shortly after France. But nobody should have been surprised that it happened. Trump floated the threat of tariffs yesterday, musing about it in an offhand way at a White House event. It’s surely not plausible that we didn’t predict this as the inevitable consequence of sending a (one) military attache to Greenland yesterday. And sure some people will blame this on the decision to send that officer.
But that’s a cop out. This isn’t the result of one decision, it’s the culmination of a year of bad calls, fudges and underestimation of Trump. Of looking the other way when he used the threat of tariffs to “stop eight wars”, normalising what amounts to diplomatic extortion. It’s what comes of looking a different other way when he invaded another sovereign country after bombing ships in its water for months, probably illegally.
And it’s what comes of giving a 79 year old toddler everything he demanded for a year without demanding anything in return.
Most of all, it’s the result of a year of taking him ‘seriously but not literally’. Of not allowing ourselves to recognise that this version of Trump is not the same as the version that took office in 2016.
READ MORE: How Donald Trump can be removed from office if he keeps up unhinged behaviour
1. Trump says he’ll slap UK with insane tariffs over Greenland
Donald Trump says he will slap the UK with eye-watering tariffs from next month if we keep opposing him on Greenland.
The US President said his reaction was sparked European countries sending representatives to Greenland “for reasons unknown”.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social website: “These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.
“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.
“Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above mentioned Countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland), will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America.
“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
Trump said the US was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades”.
He said that it was “time for Denmark to give back”, adding: “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.”
2. People are quite concerned about it
Ed Davey, who has been consistent in his calls for us to be more frosty with the Trump regime, said: “Starmer’s US policy lies in tatters. Trump is now punishing the UK and NATO allies just for doing the right thing. Time for the PM to stand firm against the bully in the White House, and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back down from this reckless plan.”
Kemi Badenoch said it was a “terrible idea”. She added: “President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland. People in both UK and US will face higher costs.
“These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland. On this, I agree with Keir Starmer.”
Even Nigel Farage came out with a not very complimentary take: “We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us.”
He added: “If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia”.
3. Starmer hit back
In a sterner than usual response, Keir Starmer said: “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.
“We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of NATO and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic. Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”
4. People are particularly concerned because of things like this
Last night Trump was asked to rule out using the US military to attack Nato allies.
His response? “I don’t talk about that.”
5. Maria Macho gave him her Nobel Prize, then he immediately forgot her name
On Thursday night, Trump met with Nobel Peace Prizewinner Maria Corina Machado.
You’ll remember Machado was the Venezuelan opposition leader, with whom Trump was quite miffed that she didn’t immediately give it to him. So much so, reportedly, that he soured on the idea of leaving Venezuela in her hands after he invaded it and removed President Nicolas Maduro.
Since then, she’d been all over the telly lovebombing the US President, presumably in the hope that he thinks again.
And this all came to its shuddering climax at Thursday’s meeting, when she handed him a giant gilded frame with her Nobel Prize in the middle.
The Nobel Committee have since made very, very clear that it’s permissible to give away the medal, but not to transfer the award.
Anyway, yesterday as he headed off to Florida, Trump couldn’t seem to remember her name, referring to her as ‘a person.’
He said: “I had a great meeting by a person who I have a lot of respect for. She has respect obviously for me and our country. And she gave me her Nobel Prize, but I’ll tell you what – I got to know her. I never met her before. And I was very very impressed. This is a fine woman.”
6. Florida named a road after him
Trump headed to Palm Beach last night for the long weekend, and so they could name a road after him.
He beamed with pride at an event held in a Mar-a-Lago ballroom in which a stretch of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County, Florida was renamed for him.
The portion of the road goes from Palm Beach International Airport to Trump’s residence, the Mar-a-Lago Club.
“I’m tremendously honoured,” Trump said. “That’s a very important stretch. A lot of people, a lot of important people, and I don’t care if they’re important or not, but important and not important people travel on that road.”
The president said of the street sign: “When people see that the beautiful sign is all lit up nice at night and it says ‘Donald J. Trump Boulevard,’ they’ll be filled with pride. Just pride. Not in me. Pride in our country.”
7. Trump said thankyou to Iran
Trump took the unusual step yesterday of thanking the Iranian government for not following through on executions of what he said was meant to be hundreds of political prisoners.
“Iran cancelled the hanging of over 800 people,” Trump told reporters while leaving the White House to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, adding that he “greatly respected” the move.
The sentiment seemed to back away from Trump’s recent repeated suggestions that the US might strike Iran militarily if its government triggered mass killings during widespread protests that swept that country but now have quieted.
Over the past two days, several Middle Eastern allies of the US had urged the Trump administration to hold off on striking, fearing such action would destabilise an already volatile region as well as the global economy.