Trump (eventually) departs for Davos after 'minor electrical issue' on Air Force One

DONALD TRUMP IS on his way to Davos amid a standoff with European leaders over his bid to take over Greenland.

The US President mocked the Europeans a day before heading to the World Economic Forum, where he will be the star of a dark, self-made drama over the fate of the autonomous Danish territory.

But leaders gathered at the Swiss ski resort have closed ranks against Trump’s aggressive stance, with French President Emmanuel Macron vowing to stand up against “bullies” and the EU promising an “unflinching” response.

Asked how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a fellow Nato member, Trump told reporters: “You’ll find out.”

Later as he left the White House, the Republican leader admitted he had “no idea” how the trip to Davos would pan out.

His trip got off to a bad start after his presidential plane Air Force One was forced to turn back to its air base shortly after takeoff. 

The White House said the return was out of an abundance of caution due to what officials described as a “minor electrical issue.” Journalists traveling with Trump reported that lights in the cabin went out briefly after takeoff.

The US President and his entourage changed planes at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington and took off again shortly after midnight (5am Irish time), about two-and-a-half hours after his initial departure.

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His eagerly awaited speech at the annual gathering of the world’s economic and political elite, which he is attending for the first time in six years, is scheduled for 1.30pm Irish time.

But as the biggest rift opens between Washington and Europe in decades over his Greenland ambitions, Trump said he would have a number of meetings on the issue at Davos.

‘Downward spiral’

Trump continues to insist that mineral-rich Greenland is vital for US and Nato security against Russia and China.

He has threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight European countries for backing Denmark, which would grow to 25% in June.

Europe is continuing to mull its response to the threat, with Germany and France supporting the idea of using the bloc’s anti-coercion instrument - known as the ‘trade bazooka’ - against the US.

But Trump has already dismissed this possibility. “Anything they do with us… all I have to do is meet it and it’s going to go ricocheting backward,” he said in an interview with News Nation.

“But we’re not looking into that. We’ll probably be able to work something out, possibly even during the next few days.”

At Davos yesterday, Macron, in sunglasses because of a burst blood vessel, warned against US attempts to “subordinate Europe”, and blasted Trump’s tariff threats as “unacceptable.”

Macron was the subject of Trump’s mockery as he publicly revealed a text message from the French leader proposing a G7 summit in Paris on Thursday on Greenland as well as Ukraine.

Trump later said he would not join any such meeting, while Macron clarified to AFP that no gathering was scheduled.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile warned that Trump risked plunging US ties with the European Union into a “downward spiral”.

And Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney – who has sought to reduce his own country’s dependence on Washington since Trump called for it to become the 51st US state – won a standing ovation at Davos for his stance.

“Canada stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark,” Carney said.

In his Davos speech, the White House said Trump wanted to focus on the US economy amid a cost of living crisis that threatens his Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

But the US president’s extraordinary assertion of US power on the world stage one year into his second term means Greenland will form the backdrop to the address.

Greenland’s prime minister said on Tuesday his tiny population of 57,000 must be prepared for military force.

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda told AFP at Davos that any such move by the US against a fellow ally “would be the end of Nato.”

Trump said he had done “more for Nato than anyone” and questioned whether allies would help the US – despite the fact that Denmark was among those who did after the 9/11 attacks in September 2001.

With reporting from © AFP 2026

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