Here's the latest
• SOON: President Donald Trump will join the White House press briefing this afternoon, which was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET but has not yet started.
• Macron takes a swipe at Trump: French President Emmanuel Macron gave a thinly veiled critique of Trump’s foreign policy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, warning of a world “where international law is trampled under foot.” Trump has reiterated his threats to acquire Greenland, but agreed to a meeting about the Arctic island later this week.
• Greenland messages exposed: Trump shared private messages from world leaders in multiple social media posts, including one from Macron that reads: “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
• Other reactions: Greenland’s prime minister has called for respect of the world order while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said “a new form of European independence” is needed in the face of “geopolitical shocks.”
Catch up: In Davos, Macron makes stark warning as von der Leyen calls for "new form of European independence"
The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting is underway in Davos, Switzerland. World leaders have gathered against the backdrop of fraught US-EU tensions over Greenland, regional unrest in the Middle East and war in Ukraine.
Get caught up on the latest from today:
- French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a stark warning against a descent into strongman politics in his address today, slamming “rule of the strongest” and “imperial ambitions” in a thinly veiled critique of the US.
- The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev plans to discuss Ukraine with representatives of the US delegation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said today he would meet with US President Donald Trump in Davos — but only if negotiators firm up prosperity and security packages for his country.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed strong support for Greenland and Denmark today, saying the sovereignty and integrity of their territory are “non-negotiable.”
- In a thinly veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump’s foreign and trade policies, von der Leyen said that “a new form of European independence” was needed as a result of current “geopolitical shocks” and stressed the importance of trade deals with other countries and international alliances.
- China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng said the recent pattern of global tariffs and trade wars has “inflicted serious shocks on the world economy” during his address at the World Economic Forum today.
Trump will join today's White House press briefing
President Donald Trump will join today’s White House press briefing with press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The 1 p.m. ET briefing comes on the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration.
Leavitt posted on X earlier that “a very special guest will be joining me at the podium today.”
Microsoft president outlines business case for strong US-Europe alliance
With President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric over Greenland overshadowing this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith laid out the business case for a strong European alliance.
Speaking to CNN’s Richard Quest, Smith argued the two continents had shared interests and created opportunities together that no single country could alone.
Smith said he was encouraged that Trump planned to meet various parties while at the forum. Microsoft’s work, he argued, gave them a unique perspective on the NATO alliance.
“We do more than any other company to protect the cyber security of the United States and the cyber security of Canada and NATO members on this side of the Atlantic. And what we see every single day is that strength comes most when we act together,” he added.
UN relief chief says his organization “isn’t going anywhere” after Trump establishes Board of Peace
The UN’s top humanitarian official and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher says Trump’s Board of Peace will not replace his organization.
“I’m clear and my colleagues are clear that the United Nations isn’t going anywhere,” he told CNN’s Becky Anderson when pressed on whether the Board for Peace is a bid to supplant the UN.
“The United Nations wasn’t built for easy times, it was built for hard times and 2026 looks set to be a rough year, but we’re laser focused on getting out there and delivering for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who we serve,” he added.
The Board’s charter, obtained by the Times of Israel and confirmed as authentic by two sources to CNN, describes it as an “international organization” that works to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict,” raising concerns across the international community that Trump is seeking a broad mandate expanding beyond Gaza, which is not mentioned by name in the document.
In voicing support for Trump’s plan, Fletcher urged the Board of Peace to focus on Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
“No one cares more about peace than us,” he said. “All of us want to see the success of President Trump’s plan for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in security, justice and opportunity and I hope that this Board of Peace will focus heavily on that.”
Mauritius says its sovereignty over Chagos Islands is settled after Trump claims
The Mauritian government released a statement on Tuesday responding to US President Donald Trump, who denigrated the United Kingdom over its plan to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Trump said in a social media post that the UK’s decision to give the islands back to Mauritius was an “act of total weakness” and had pushed him to pursue US control of Greenland.
Some context: A Cold War agreement between American and British authorities separated the islands from Mauritius in 1965, evicting many of the archipelago’s inhabitants to create space for a US-UK military base. In its statement Tuesday, Mauritius called the history of the islands one of “profound injustice.”
The UK confirmed its decision last May to return the islands to Mauritian control, while retaining the US-UK Diego Garcia military base there. At the time, the US State Department said Washington “welcomed” the deal between the UK and Mauritius. The treaty has been heavily scrutinized by UK Parliament and is awaiting final approval.
On Tuesday, a top British official said that the UK should not be “embarrassed or humiliated” by the choice to return the Chagos Islands.
Canadian PM Carney warns "rules-based order is fading" and middle powers need to stick together
The decline of the international rules-based order means middle-sized countries need to stick together, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said today, in a thinly veiled criticism of the US administration’s foreign policy and use of punitive trade tariffs.
“It seems that every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great power rivalry. That the rules-based order is fading – that the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must,” Carney said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Without mentioning President Donald Trump by name, Carney highlighted that great powers have begun using “economic integration as weapons,” “tariffs as leverage,” and “supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.”
The Canadian Prime Minister also warned great powers against pushing their allies and international systems too far.
“Hegemons cannot continually monetize their relationships,” he said.
“The middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” he said. “We shouldn’t allow the rise of hard power to blind us to the fact that the power of legitimacy, integrity, and rules will remain strong, if we choose to wield them together.”
Why is Macron wearing sunglasses while speaking in Davos?
French President Emmanuel Macron stepped out to address the World Economic Forum earlier today in Davos, Switzerland, donning a pair of blue mirrored aviator-style sunnies during his speech.
He first sported the shades last week in meetings in Paris.
His choice in eyewear could be related to an issue that was apparent in an earlier New Year’s address to the French military on January 15, where his scarlet red, irritated eye was on full display.
The president shrugged off his ocular trouble.
“I must ask you to excuse the unsightly appearance of my eye,” he told the assembled troops.
“It’s something completely harmless. Simply see it as an unintentional nod to the ‘eye of the tiger’ to kick off the year. For those who get the reference, it’s a sign of determination. And it is absolute,” he added.
A closer look at the Chagos Islands, the archipelago Trump criticized the UK for giving up
US President Donald Trump accused the United Kingdom of “stupidity” over its plan to hand over ownership of the Chagos Islands, including the US air base on Diego Garcia, to Mauritius.
He cited the move as another reason for Washington to seize control of Greenland.
What are the Chagos Islands?
The Chagos Islands make up an archipelago in the center of the Indian Ocean. The UK took over the islands along with Mauritius in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris after the defeat of Napoleon.
In 1965, a Cold War agreement between the US and UK split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, keeping control of the archipelago and renaming it as the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Over time, many Chagossians were removed from the island to create space for a military base, with most resettling in Mauritius. Although Mauritius gained independence in 1968, the Chagos Islands remain under British control.
Why does the US have a military base there?
Hoping to stave off Soviet military influence in the region, the US and UK built a major base on Diego Garcia in 1971. One of America’s most important — and secretive — overseas assets, Diego Garcia has helped launch two invasions of Iraq, served as a vital landing spot for bombers that fly missions across Asia, and has been linked to US rendition efforts.
Why is the UK relinquishing control of the islands?
Mauritius has for decades claimed sovereignty over the islands and pursued the case through international courts. In 2019, the International Court of Justice — the United Nations’ highest court — ruled that the UK must return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius “as rapidly as possible.” In its ruling, the court said the move would enable Mauritius to “complete the decolonization of its territory in a manner consistent with the right of peoples to self-determination.”
Although the judgment was non-binding, the UK has faced growing international pressure to give up control of the islands. Successive British governments — both Conservative and Labour — have argued it is a test of the UK’s commitment to international law.
Read more about the Chagos Islands in our full explainer.
Trump has no plans to visit Paris, White House official says
President Donald Trump has no plans to travel to Paris this week for an emergency Group of 7 summit proposed by his counterpart Emmanuel Macron, according to a White House official.
“President Trump has no plans to travel to Paris at this time,” the official said.
Macron raised the suggestion in a text message to Trump that the US president later shared on social media.
“i can set up a g7 meeting after Davos in Paris on thursday afternoon. I can invite the ukrainians, the danish, the syrians, and the russians in the margins,” Macron wrote in the message.
In his message to Trump, the French president also offered to arrange a dinner before Trump returned to Washington, DC.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7. A leaders’ summit is planned for June in Évian-les-Bains.
Tariffs threatened over Greenland creating uncertainty for both US and European businesses, Lagarde says
The new tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump over Greenland are creating damaging uncertainty for companies on both sides of the Atlantic, according to the president of the European Central Bank.
Speaking to CNN’s Richard Quest in Davos, Switzerland, Christine Lagarde said:
“So to have these economies that are doing well at the moment — or reasonably well — stall because of uncertainty is really inconvenient, to say the least,” she added.
Lagarde pointed out that business links between the United States and Europe are “huge” in terms of trade, investment and financial holdings. “And to jeopardize that, to put it into question, is not conducive to good business policies,” she said.
Lagarde also argued the European Union needs to become “more independent” as a result of the tumult unleashed by Trump’s second term.
“This is a wake-up call, a bigger one than we ever had, and I think that Europe is going to … decide what do we need to do to be strong by ourselves, to be more independent, to rely on the internal trade that we do with each other so that we can … at least be prepared (with) another Plan B, just in case the normal (US-Europe) relationship is not restored,” she said.
Dow tumbles more than 700 points as Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland
US stocks opened sharply lower and European markets fell Tuesday as investors continued to express concern about President Donald Trump’s clash with European leaders over ownership of Greenland.
The Dow was down 728 points, or 1.47%, shortly after the opening bell. The broader S&P 500 fell 1.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slid 1.7%.
The VIX volatility index, commonly known as the fear gauge, surged 28%, rising above 20 — a level that signals elevated volatility — for the first time since November.
Europe’s benchmark Stoxx 600 index — which tracks stocks across the region — was down 1.26% Tuesday. The Stoxx 600 on Monday fell 1.19% and posted its worst day since November.
“It’s another geopolitical crisis instigated by President Trump,” Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, told CNN’s Matt Egan. “The market learned from last year’s tariff crisis that the president uses tariffs as a negotiating bat.”
Investors resumed the so-called “Sell America” trade, selling off the US dollar and bonds. The dollar index, which measures the dollar’s strength against six major currencies, fell 0.89% — a huge move in currency markets.
The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield, which trades in opposite direction to prices, rose to 4.29% and hit its highest level since September.
Meanwhile, a snap election in Japan rattled markets in Asia, sending Japanese bond yields surging higher. The sharp rise in yields in Japan is adding to bond market jitters and putting pressure on US Treasuries.
Read more here.
France’s Macron slams "rule of the strongest" and "imperial ambitions" in thinly veiled critique of the US
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a stark warning against a descent into strongman politics in his address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos today, taking swipes at US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
“Without collective governance, cooperation gives way to relentless competition,” he said, slamming US demands on mutual trade, the sole aim of which is to “weaken and subordinate Europe.”
In comments that appeared to be targeted toward Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron also criticized “imperial ambitions” resurfacing.
The French president offered an image of a strong Europe, ready to retaliate against threats to its territorial sovereignty.
“The (European Union’s) anti-coercion mechanism is a powerful instrument, and we should not hesitate to deploy it in today’s tough environment,” he said.
Macron also called for Europe to reduce its investment in overseas bonds — as the bloc is currently a major buyer of US debt — perhaps hinting at further leverage Europe holds over the White House.
Watch his speech:
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a warning against strongman politics during a speech in Davos, taking swipes at US President Donald Trump’s trade threats over Greenland. CNN's Melissa Bell reports.
Greenland prime minister says current situation could threaten world order
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said US President Donald Trump’s calls for the US to take over the vast Arctic territory has created a situation that is “about the world order.”
Answering an earlier question in Danish, he said that “it is unlikely that there will be a use of military force, but it cannot be ruled out,” according to a Reuters translation.
He also underlined that Greenland was thankful for its allies and the European Union “for constantly saying we need to respect the world order.”
Greenland has hosted a US military base for 75 years and has long maintained a close economic relationship with its NATO ally.
Nielsen referenced these historic ties, saying that “we can do lots more in that framework.”
Zelensky urges US to “listen to Europe” as Trump escalates threats to take over Greenland
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized his “respect” for Greenland’s sovereignty on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump lashed out at European leaders who criticized his aim to control the self-governing Danish territory.
“As for Greenland, I would like to emphasise once again that we respect, and I personally have great respect, for Denmark and respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Ukrainian leader said in an audio message to journalists. “And I very much want America to listen to Europe.”
The Ukrainian leader admitted he was “concerned about any distractions” from Russia’s war in Ukraine, as condemnation from European leaders and human rights advocates of Trump’s threats to take over Greenland grew louder.
Zelensky reiterated calls for tougher sanctions against Moscow, bolstered aerial defenses and security guarantees from the White House – adding that so far, the US “has not had the strength to stop Putin.”
“Can America do more? Yes, it can. And we really want that. And we believe that the Americans are capable of doing so,” said Zelensky.
Zelensky says he’ll only meet with Trump in Davos if Ukraine’s security guarantees are met
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said today he would meet with US President Donald Trump in Davos — but only if negotiators firm up prosperity and security packages for his country.
The Ukrainian leader said his top priority was “to end this war” nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
World leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week against the backdrop of fraught US-EU tensions, regional unrest in the Middle East and war in Ukraine.
Moscow launched its biggest drone and missile attack on Ukraine this month overnight, cutting vast swathes of power, heat, electricity and water supply in the middle of a biting winter freeze.
“I have a plan to help people with energy,” said Zelensky. “This is the most important priority right now. Of course, I choose Ukraine in this case, not the economic forum.”
He doubled down on demands for additional air defenses from allies, adding that meetings with the US must lead to “concrete results for strengthening Ukraine or bringing the war closer to an end.”
“If I do go (to Davos), I am sure that our teams are talking about it, then the meeting will take place,” Zelensky added.
"Tariff and trade wars have no winners,” China's vice premier says during Davos address
China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng said the recent pattern of global tariffs and trade wars has “inflicted serious shocks on the world economy” during his address at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos today.
The lawmaker called for acts of solidarity amid the rise in global tensions.
Lifeng went on to commend the role the annual meeting can play in international relations, saying, “The wisdom of Davos lies in dialogue, and the future of the world hinges on cooperation.”
“Let us uphold the vision of community with a shared future for humanity, carry forward a spirit of dialogue, enhance openness and cooperation,” he urged.
Denmark is sending equipment and advisers to bolster Greenland's emergency preparedness
Denmark is sending more equipment and advisers to Greenland to “strengthen their emergency preparedness,” the Danish government said yesterday, as the vast Arctic island is buffeted by geopolitical currents caused by Trump’s calls for the US to annex it.
Danish authorities are providing Greenland with advice on securing communication and critical infrastructure at the request of the territory’s government, Denmark’s Ministry of Resilience and Preparedness said in a statement.
It is also providing Greenland with crisis communication and crisis management expertise, as well as emergency response specialists and assistance in rolling out a mobile-based warning system, the statement added.
Separately, additional Danish troops arrived in Greenland yesterday evening after a Danish military spokesperson told CNN there will be a “substantial increase” in the number of troops stationed on the island.
NATO official confirms authenticity of Rutte's message to Trump
After US President Donald Trump posted a screenshot to social media of a message in which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump, a NATO official has now confirmed authenticity of the message to CNN.
“Mr. President dear Donald - what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible,” the message reads.
The screenshot was posted alongside the caption, “Thank you to Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO!”
Remember: Rutte has been very complimentary of Trump in the past, praising the president for kickstarting talks on Russia and Ukraine in a December interview with CNN, and last summer calling Trump’s attack on Iran’s nuclear program “extremely impressive.”
"If someone attacks Greenland, we will fight back," Greenland parliament member says
The people of Greenland are prepared to defend their nation against potential attacks, according to a Greenlandic member of parliament.
Speaking to CNN’s Audie Cornish on Tuesday, Kuno Fencker asserted that there is no appetite in Greenland to be “annexed again by any country.”
“If someone attacks the people of Greenland, of course, we will fight back. No matter what,” the parliamentarian explained, adding, “We will fight for our sovereignty … We will fight for our right to be heard.”
Fencker, who belongs to the country’s centrist, pro-independence party Naleraq, acknowledged that Greenland sits in a far weaker military position than the United States, “We don’t even have a military,” he said.
But the lawmaker reiterated Greenland’s stance to protect itself from a US incursion and work lawfully toward sovereignty, “We want to cooperate with Denmark, according to the law,” he said.
“Our law absolutely says we have to negotiate with Denmark in regards to the future of Greenland,” Fencker added.
Geopolitical "shocks" require "new form of European independence," EU’s von der Leyen says
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has spoken of the need to build “a new form of European independence.”
In a thinly veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump’s foreign and trade policies, she said that independence was needed as a result of current “geopolitical shocks” and stressed the importance of trade deals with other countries and international alliances.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, she highlighted a recent trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, a South American trading bloc, which had “created the largest free trade zone in the world.”
After Davos, von der Leyen will travel to India, she said, where the EU is “on the cusp of a historic trade agreement,” although “there is still work to do.”
Meanwhile, von der Leyen stressed the need to continue working with the United States in other areas as she highlighted the upcoming fourth anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Four years on, Russia shows no sign of abating. No sign of remorse. No sign of seeking peace. On the contrary, Russia is intensifying its attacks,” she said.
