Trump mixes Greenland up with another country in major speech blunder despite demanding to own it

Despite being desperate to own the place, President Donald Trump appeared to repeatedly confuse Greenland with another country during his speech in Davos.

People reckon that the 79-year-old misspoke - more than once - while onstage in front of a room full of world leaders, government officials, diplomats and business execs.

He took to the stage on Wednesday (21 January) to deliver a speech at the World Economic Forum, which is an annual five-day event held in the Swiss Alps.

The majority of his address, which ran for over an hour, focused on his plans to acquire Greenland - and how far he will go to get what he wants.

Trump seemingly took military intervention off the table, as he told world leaders that although the US would be 'unstoppable' if he 'decided to use excessive force', he doesn't intend to play this card.

"We won't do that," the commander-in-chief said. "I don't have to use force, I don't want to use force, I won't use force."

Trump also told his counterparts from across the globe that he was 'seeking immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland', and just hours after his speech in Davos, he claimed he has 'formed the framework of a future deal' to take control of Denmark's autonomous territory with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

As a result, the US President said he will no longer impose hefty tariffs on several European nations, including the UK.

But before news of this major development broke, people were more preoccupied with analysing parts of Trump's speech in which he appeared to discuss his grand plan to acquire Greenland.

However, while referring to the world's largest island, he repeatedly called it 'Iceland' by mistake.

It might seem like a minor mix-up to some, but since Trump has caused international chaos by trying to get ownership of the place, you'd think he might be able to call it the correct name.

Trump said Iceland instead of Greenland at least four times. He was very clear. Here’s a receipt pic.twitter.com/mrQ5kguQ9e https://t.co/rIbR7BJ5O1

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2026

Throughout his speech, Trump seemed to interchange the two, which probably left Iceland's politicians at the World Economic Forum in quite a panic.

But as it stands, it seems Iceland is safe, and the president appeared to mix up the two places on several occasions, although the White House has insisted he did no such thing.

At one point, Trump was explaining how the land lies between him and other European leaders, only to make the blunder.

"I'm helping NATO, and until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me," Trump said, although he was actually referring to Greenland rather than the Nordic island nation.

He then claimed that NATO was not supportive of the US, while adding: "And Iceland, I can tell you."

Trump then alleged that all of this commotion over Greenland had caused a drop in stock prices on Tuesday (20 January) - but Iceland unfortunately got the blame.

"The stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland," he told the audience at the World Economic Forum. "So Iceland's already cost us a lot of money, but that dip is peanuts compared to what it's gone up."

Really, the dip was down to his threat to impose tariffs on European nations - but I digress.

Despite video footage of Trump's entire speech capturing his repeated gaffes, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has insisted he was actually correct in what he said.

After News Nation journalist Libbey Dean took to X to report that Trump 'appeared to mix up Greenland and Iceland around three times', Leavitt shared a scathing response.

"No he didn’t, Libby," she wrote. "His written remarks referred to Greenland as a 'piece of ice' because that’s what it is. You’re the only one mixing anything up here."

Leavitt also attached a picture of a lump of ice in Greenland, apparently to avoid any further confusion.

She also told Fox News that those in attendance at the World Economic Forum 'were all very pleased' with Trump's speech, saying: "I was in the room, John, and it has rave reviews, because the President just tells it like it is."