Alex Gray, former NSC chief of staff under Trump, joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss his views on European resistance to the president’s push to acquire Greenland and the latest developments on the unrest in Iran.
European countries consider plans to raise their own tariffs against the US in a trade bazooka to counter president’s pressure Donald Trump on Monday.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil teased the move on Monday while speaking alongside his French counterpart in Berlin. French president Emmanuel Macron also urged the European Union to activate its anti-coercion tool, nicknamed the trade ‘bazooka’, on Monday.
“There is a legally established European toolbox to respond to economic blackmail with highly sensitive measures. And we must now consider using these measures,” Klingbeil said.
“Everything has to be prepared now,” he added. “We are ready to find solutions. We are reaching out, but we are not willing to be blackmailed.”
TRUMP KNOWS REAL ESTATE WELL – AND HE KNOWS GREENLAND’S VALUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY
President Donald Trump speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron. (Yoan Valat/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“We are constantly experiencing new provocations. We are constantly experiencing new antagonism, which is what President Trump is looking for. And here we Europeans must make it clear that the limit has been reached,” Klingbeil continued.
More than half a dozen European countries warned in a joint statement on Sunday that the tariff threats are over Greenland undermining transatlantic ties as the White House tries to pressure allies into a deal to acquire the Arctic island.
Trump threatened on his Truth Social platform to impose a 10% tariff on the eight European countries unless an agreement is reached on what he called the “full and total purchase of Greenland.”
TRUMP SAYS GREENLAND’S DEFENSE IS ‘TWO DOG LEADS’ AS HE PUSHES FOR US TERRITORY ACQUISITION
Residents of Greenland, the world’s largest island, have expressed concern about President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in conquering the area. (Julia Wäschenbach/Photo Alliance/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The countries include Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Trump said the 10% rate would take effect on February 2 and could rise to 25% on June 1.
Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s post on social media on Saturday.
US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS DENMARK Amid Backlash Over TRUMP’s Push to ACQUIRE GREENLAND
Soldiers pass the Arktisk Kommando, the Arctic Command of the Danish Armed Forces, in Nuuk, Greenland on January 15, 2026. (Julia Wäschenbach/photo alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Kristersson wrote on X that allies would not be “blackmailed.”
“Only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues that concern Denmark and Greenland,” he said, adding another European Union (EU) countries discussed a coordinated response.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, also expressed concern about Trump’s comments, warning that Russia and China were “having a good day” and could take advantage of divisions within NATO.
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“If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address it within NATO. Tariffs threaten to make Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity,” she said. “We also cannot be distracted from our core mission of helping to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
