Here's the latest
• Greenland tensions: European ambassadors held an emergency meeting today after President Donald Trump threatened to hit several allies with tariffs unless a deal is reached for the US purchase of Greenland. An update is expected tomorrow. Earlier, the eight nations threatened by Trump warned of a “dangerous downward spiral.”
• ICE in Minnesota: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back on the Trump administration’s escalation of federal law enforcement after more than 1,500 active-duty soldiers were told to prepare for possible deployment. “This act was clearly designed to intimidate the people of Minneapolis,” he told CNN.
• Iran unrest: President Masoud Pezeshkian said any aggression directed at the country’s supreme leader would be seen as “all-out war” against Iran, after Trump called yesterday for new leadership in Tehran.
Trump’s "Board of Peace" for Gaza to require $1 billion payment for permanent membership
Members of President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the committee that will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, will receive a permanent seat if they pay $1 billion, according to a US official.
All funds raised will go toward rebuilding Gaza, the official said, adding that “there will not be exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations.”
While there is no requirement to contribute funds to the board, members who do not make a $1 billion payment will have three-year terms, the official told CNN Sunday.
The Trump-chaired board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Leaders of several nations subsequently confirmed they were invited by Trump to join the board, which Trump has touted as the “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled.”
The board has no representative of the Palestinian Authority, a Hamas rival that runs parts of the occupied West Bank and is expected to eventually be handed control of Gaza after completing extensive reforms.
Trump’s foreign policy envoy Steve Witkoff, deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also members, along with billionaire businessman Marc Rowan and World Bank head Ajay Banga.
Minneapolis protesters brave the brutal cold outside Whipple building
A small group of protesters are settling in for the night outside a federal building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where daily anti-ICE demonstrations have taken place this week.
The crowd —- braving frigid temperatures — have brought out heat lamps to help stay warm, according to a CNN crew at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building this evening.
Tonight’s scene is a stark contrast to last night’s protest that saw a large group of federal officers clad in riot gear moving toward protesters, who responded with chants of expletives and boos.
European Commission to provide update Monday after ambassadors' meeting on Trump tariff threat over Greenland
An emergency meeting of the European Union’s 27 ambassadors to discuss Greenland and Donald Trump’s tariff threats has ended, an EU diplomat told CNN.
The European Commission is expected to provide an update on Monday, the diplomat said.
The meeting in Brussels started at 11 a.m. ET and concluded at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Remember: Trump said yesterday the United States will impose a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1, increasing to 25% on June 1, until an agreement is reached for the purchase of Greenland.
EU's Costa to convene extraordinary European Council meeting in coming days
European Council President Antonio Costa says he will convene an extraordinary meeting of the council in the coming days regarding US-Europe tensions over Greenland.
A European Union official told CNN the meeting will be held in person in Brussels toward the end of the week.
Costa said that after consulting with member states, European leaders are in agreement that US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations.
They also said they were ready to continue “engaging constructively” with the US but would defend themselves against any form of coercion, Costa said on X.
European leaders urge Trump not to pressure allies over Greenland. Here's the latest
European leaders are speaking out after President Donald Trump threatened to hit his allies with tariffs unless a deal is reached for the US purchase of Greenland.
We’re also hearing that European Union ambassadors are currently holding an emergency meeting in Brussels in response to Trump’s threat, which he made after an estimated quarter of the population of Greenland’s capital Nuuk joined protests against any potential annexation.
If you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments:
- European leaders react: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about Greenland with Trump and told him, “that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong,” according to Downing Street. Starmer spoke to Trump after holding calls with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, his office said. Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to cultivate a good personal relationship with Trump, described the threat of tariffs as “unacceptable.”
- Top Trump official backs takeover: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Europe will “understand” America’s proposed control of Greenland as part of a broad defense against China and Russia gaining a greater foothold over the Arctic. Meanwhile former Vice President Mike Pence said he supports purchasing Greenland but raised concerns about Trump’s strategy and “a questionable use of constitutional authority.”
- Reconnaissance mission: Germany’s role in a multinational European reconnaissance mission in Greenland — part of a broader effort by NATO — concluded today, the Ministry of Defense said. Soldiers from Germany who were sent to the Arctic island were able to gather “important insights,” the ministry said.
- GOP caution: Rep. Mike Turner called Trump’s threats problematic. While the Ohio lawmaker acknowledged Greenland is strategically important to national security, he told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that ”there certainly is no authority that the president has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country.”
- Greenlanders preparing: Shopkeepers in Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk have told CNN that sales of survival gear have significantly increased recently, with locals worried about military action or other forms of instability.
CNN’s James Frater, Michael Rios, Nic Robertson, Benjamin Brown, John Torigoe, Catherine Nicholls, Robert Ilich, Alejandra Jaramillo, Sophie Tanno, Benjamin Brown and Inke Kappeler contributed to this report.
British PM Starmer tells Trump in call that applying tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland "is wrong"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about Greenland with US President Donald Trump on Sunday after holding calls with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, his office said.
Starmer reiterated his position on Greenland and said that security in the region is a priority of all NATO allies.
Trump on Saturday threatened to impose tariffs on several European allies that have objected to his demands to purchase Greenland.
DHS Secretary says federal judge's order won’t change operations in Minneapolis
A federal order preventing some actions by federal agents in the administration’s Minnesota immigration operation will not change operations on the ground, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday.
The order, issued by a judge on Friday, prevents federal agents in Minnesota from detaining peaceful protesters, stopping people in their cars without cause and using chemical irritants, among other actions.
When asked about video showing federal agents using chemical agents against protesters, Noem said, “We only use those chemical agents when there’s violence happening and perpetuating, and you need to be able to establish law and order to keep people safe.”
The order does not change operations on the ground, the secretary added.
Sales of survival gear are up in Greenland as locals worry about military action or other instability
Shopkeepers in Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk have told CNN that sales of survival gear have significantly increased recently, with locals worried about military action or other forms of instability.
Camping stoves, long-life dried foods and freeze-dried meals are being bought up, multiple shopkeepers said.
Greenlanders in Nuuk also spoke to Reuters today, telling the agency that they oppose a US takeover of the island.
Pensioner Jens Kjeldsen shared similar feelings, saying that Trump is “out of his mind, really. He is losing his mind. Well, he lost (it) a long time ago.”
Nurse Lisa Jorgensen said that Trump is “out of reach” and is issuing a threat to the island “again, and again, and again.”
“We have a lot of allies and now they are stepping up and they come here to Greenland, the soldiers, but also the leaders are beginning to… step up and support us,” she told Reuters.
Iranian president says any aggression directed at supreme leader constitutes an "all-out war"
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that any aggression directed at the country’s supreme leader would be seen as “all-out war” against Iran, after US President Donald Trump called for new leadership in the country.
He added that any aggression against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is “tantamount to an all-out war against the nation.”
On Saturday, Trump called for new leadership in Tehran following comments from Khamenei, who blasted Trump a “criminal” over his support for the anti-government protests.
CNN’s Christian Sierra contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro says bringing federal troops to Minneapolis undermines trust in local police
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is widely expected to make a run for the presidency in 2028, said today President Donald Trump’s moves to bring surges of federal agents into cities, and his threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, undermines trust in local police.
Protests erupted in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which gives a president extraordinary powers to dispatch the military, to quell demonstrations.
“I think what is critically important now is to bring down the temperature and bring up the level of trust, and I frankly think the president’s actions have made it harder to find that level of trust between the community and law enforcement,” Shapiro said Sunday.
When asked whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has “raised the temperature” by speaking out against a surge of ICE agents in his state, Shapiro said he “can’t opine as to how others are doing it in their states,” but added, “in Pennsylvania, we respect law enforcement.”
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.
NATO chief says he has spoken to Trump about Greenland
NATO chief Mark Rutte said a short while ago that he has spoken to US President Donald Trump about Greenland.
Some context: Several NATO member states have suggested that Trump’s pursuit of owning Greenland threatens the entire NATO alliance.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in an interview published today that if the US were to use force to acquire the Arctic island, “it would be the death knell for NATO.”
DHS secretary says ICE agents are adequately trained for deployment in Minnesota
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said today that internal review procedures are being followed over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minnesota.
“I would not listen to Gov. (Tim) Walz, he has a very bad track record,” Noem said when asked on CBS’ “Face the Nation” about whether the agent had been placed on administrative leave or was being investigated, after the Minnesota governor claimed that the federal agent was the only person not under review.
CNN reported earlier that the Department of Homeland Security has opened an internal investigation into whether the agent followed department procedures.
“Every law enforcement officer knows that when they take the oath to step up and to protect the public and put their lives on the line. They absolutely know that everything that they do will be analyzed and investigated,” she added.
Noem then accused Democrats of unfairly targeting law enforcement officers pointing to what she described as criminal activity in Minneapolis she said has been allowed to continue.
Asked whether ICE agents are adequately trained for what the administration has described as dangerous conditions in the state, Noem said:
Attacks on immigration officers have caused a change in tactics, acting ICE director says
Federal agents and officers have shifted their tactics in response to recent clashes during demonstrations, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons said today.
Asked by the host of “Sunday Morning Futures” Maria Bartiromo if he believes the attacks on ICE agents “have changed the way agents are doing their job,” Lyons responded, “You’re right in the fact that it does change the mindset of the men and women of ICE.”
He said that’s why the agency has to provide agents with “so much support.”
He went on to say, “In my 30 years of law enforcement, I never thought we would have to send law enforcement to protect law enforcement.”
Lyons said he believes that if political leaders allowed local and state law enforcement to work with ICE, there might be fewer problems.
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified the Fox News show on which Lyons was interviewed. It is “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Cruz says he supports military action in Iran if other options fall short
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today said he supports US military action in Iran, but only after all non-military steps against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been exhausted.
“I think the US should be taking every step possible to end this regime,” Cruz said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.”
He said the US has a number of steps it can take before resorting to military force, and urged more measures to support mass protests on the ground in Iran.
“I hope and believe that America is doing everything we can to support the protesters. There are lots of steps we can and should be taking short of a bombing strike,” Cruz said.
President Donald Trump yesterday called for “new leadership” in Iran after Khamenei labeled him a “criminal” and cast blame on Trump’s support of protesters for fueling the recent anti-government protests. Khamenei said Trump had “openly encouraged” the unrest by promising support from the US military.
Cruz pointed to Trump’s call for new leadership as an important step, saying it marked a shift.
“In the last two days a really important step occurred where President Trump came out unequivocally and said it is time for new leadership in Iran,” Cruz said, describing that development as “massively important.”
Mayor pushes back on potential deployment of soldiers to Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back on the Trump administration’s escalation of federal law enforcement in his city Sunday morning, after more than 1,500 active-duty soldiers were told to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota.
“This act was clearly designed to intimidate the people of Minneapolis,” Frey said on CNN’s State of the Union, calling the administration’s actions “ridiculous” and “completely unconstitutional.”
Minnesota officials have also mobilized the National Guard amid a surge in immigration enforcement and ongoing protests around Minneapolis.
On the prospect of state National Guard and local police facing off against ICE agents and active duty troops in Minneapolis, Frey said, “We can’t have that in America.”
Calm will be restored to Minneapolis once the ICE agents are gone, and the city can get back to daily life, Frey said.
In reaction, the White House Rapid Response account wrote, “The Trump administration is not going to surrender to the Radical Left and let Minneapolis “get back to” rampant fraud, theft, and sanctuary for criminals.”
The Department of Justice is investigating Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over possible obstruction of federal law enforcement, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Frey said Sunday he has not received a subpoena or any official notice about the investigation and is not aware of specific allegations.
Asked whether he would comply with the Department of Justice’s demands if a subpoena was issued, Frey told ABC News, “We have done nothing wrong, so of course we will comply in it, but at the same time, we need to be understanding how wild this is.”
Bipartisan Senate duo pushes to rein in Trump's Greenland moves
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Sen. Rand Paul are exploring options to rein in President Donald Trump’s efforts to annex Greenland, after their resolution seeking to limit Trump’s unilateral military actions in Venezuela failed last week.
Appearing jointly with Paul on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today, Kaine said the pair are considering three options: writing a new war powers resolution regarding Greenland, challenging the president’s move yesterday to announce new tariffs on European countries who don’t embrace the US taking control of Greenland and relying on a law stating the president can’t withdraw from NATO without congressional approval.
Kaine added that Trump’s rhetoric on Greenland is “not helpful” because it’s “pushing allies away from us, rather than forging the stronger relationships with allies that we need.”
The question of the boundaries of the president’s authority – and Congress’ role in authorizing military action abroad – roiled Capitol Hill in recent months, as the Trump administration escalated its military campaign in South America. It culminated in Senate Republicans blocking a war powers resolution to curb the Trump administration’s moves in Venezuela.
Paul, the Republican backer of the effort to pass a war powers resolution on Venezuela, said he doesn’t believe the president would garner enough Republican support to vote for any military action in Greenland, if he sought it.
“I’ve heard of no Republican support for that, even though most hawkish members of our caucus have said they won’t support that,” Paul said. “So, I think it’s going to be very difficult. I think he keeps rattling the cage saying that.”
Bessent says "Europeans will understand" the best outcome is for US control of Greenland
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Europe will “understand” America’s proposed takeover of Greenland as part of a broad defense against China and Russia gaining a greater foothold over the Arctic.
“I believe the Europeans will understand that the best outcome is for the US to maintain or receive control of Greenland,” Bessent said today on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Bessent described Greenland as “essential” to national security, while noting the importance of building of a “Golden Dome,” an ambitious missile defense shield proposed by the Trump administration. He also noted that President Donald Trump “is looking beyond next year to what could happen for a battle in the Arctic … America has to be in control here.”
On Saturday, Trump announced new 10% tariffs on eight European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom — until “a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
“The European leaders will come around, and they will understand they need to be under the US security umbrella,” Bessent said when asked about if Greenland or NATO are more important to national security.
"There may come a time" for Trump to use Insurrection Act in Minnesota, deputy attorney general says
A top Trump administration official voiced support for President Donald Trump’s potential use of the Insurrection Act as the Pentagon has ordered approximately 1,500 active duty soldiers to prepare for a potential deployment to Minnesota.
After a federal judge ruled Friday that immigration agents can’t deploy certain crowd control measures against peaceful protesters, Blanche said the administration is “still looking at whether to appeal what the judge did,” reiterating support for ICE tactics and claiming that protesters on the ground have not been peaceful.
Demonstrations observed by CNN on Saturday have been largely peaceful.
Canada’s prime minister says Greenland escalation is a "serious situation"
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney backed Greenland’s sovereignty and reaffirmed his commitment to NATO’s responsibility for security in Greenland in the face of escalating demands from the Trump administration.
He added that the security of both Greenland and Denmark falls within the responsibilities of NATO and that Canada would work with NATO allies to further enhance Arctic security.
When asked what he will say to US President Donald Trump about Greenland when they meet in the coming days at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carney replied, “everything I just said.”
Canada and Greenland share one of the longest maritime borders in the world and cooperate on indigenous issues across the Arctic. Despite unprecedented trade disputes between the US and Canada, Carney has developed a working relationship with Trump and the two often call and text.
Carney also confirmed that he will be joining the Trump administration’s Board of Peace for Gaza, but said the details of the board, including financial ones, were yet to be worked out.
Pence says he doesn’t support Delcy Rodríguez as president of Venezuela
Former Vice President Mike Pence said today he doesn’t support Delcy Rodríguez as the leader of Venezuela, framing her as “not the right leader for Venezuela going forward,” even as he backed broader US goals in the Latin American country.
“I’m grateful that president Trump unleashed our elite armed forces, Delta Forces, to take Maduro down to bring him to the United States to face justice,” Pence told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
“I think that was a historic and an important step forward towards restoring freedom in that country. But what comes after is just as important,” he said. “I want to say, Delcy Rodríguez is not the right leader for Venezuela going forward.”
Pence acknowledged that a transition period may be necessary but said the US should swiftly work to restore democratic norms in the country.
“I think it should be the objective of the United States to move forward as quickly as possible to restore basic liberties, to restore free-market principles. Do that through free and fair elections,” Pence said. “And I have no doubt in my mind whether it’s María (Corina) Machado, or someone else, that the people of Venezuela will choose freedom.”
As millions of Venezuelans wait to see what will become of their economically and politically ravaged country, two female leaders remain at the center of the debate over the nation’s future and the United States’ role in shaping it.
Trump has shown support for Rodríguez, a longtime regime insider, over opposition leader Machado, who met with the president last week and gifted him her Nobel Peace Prize medal.
