Trump Triggers NATO Shockwave After Admitting “Bad Intelligence” on Greenland — Allies Fear U.S. Is Becoming the Threat
Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through NATO after quietly conceding in a private call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he may have acted on bad intelligence regarding European troop deployments in Greenland. The admission, revealed by senior UK and Danish officials, has intensified fears across Europe that the United States is no longer a stabilizing force within the alliance — but an unpredictable risk.
According to officials briefed on the call, Trump appeared to misunderstand a limited European security deployment to Greenland, which was designed to assess infrastructure needs and reassure regional stability. Those deployments, officials say, were not only defensive but were fully coordinated with the United States through existing military channels. Denmark had briefed Washington in advance, undermining Trump’s narrative that Europe was moving against U.S. interests.
Despite the partial concession, European leaders say the core problem remains unresolved. Trump has shown no willingness to abandon his demand that the United States “take” Greenland in some form — a position viewed in Europe as a non-negotiable red line. Diplomats warn that even raising the idea of coercion against a NATO ally has fundamentally damaged trust.
Senior European security advisers describe the mood as one of deep exasperation. One official advising a head of state bluntly stated that, for the first time in decades, the most serious threat to NATO cohesion is coming from inside the alliance. Analysts note that existing agreements already allow the U.S. to deploy air defense and space-based assets in Greenland, making Trump’s aggressive posture strategically unnecessary.
The economic consequences are also rattling global markets. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, investors and CEOs reportedly reacted with “white-knuckle” anxiety as Trump doubled down on threats of 10–25% tariffs against close allies. With the U.S. leading China in key areas like artificial intelligence, business leaders fear Trump’s confrontational tactics could squander a historic strategic advantage.
Political backlash inside the United States is growing sharper. Lawmakers across party lines warn that Trump is placing personal grievances above national interest, risking a trade war — or worse, a military confrontation — with allies that have stood alongside the U.S. for over 75 years. Critics argue that Congress has failed to act decisively, allowing executive power to spiral unchecked.
Nowhere is the damage more visible than in Denmark. Favorability toward the United States has collapsed from near-universal approval to barely double digits, according to recent polling. Danish officials stress they remain committed to NATO and U.S. security cooperation, but insist Greenland is not for sale — and never will be. Many simply say they “want their old American friends back.”
As allies from Canada to France publicly side with Denmark and Greenland, the implications are stark. If Trump is willing to threaten one NATO partner, others fear they could be next. What was once unthinkable is now openly discussed: a scenario where America’s allies quietly prepare defenses not against Russia or China — but against Washington itself.
