Washington, Jan 21 (AP) US President Donald Trump appeared at Tuesday's White House press briefing to mark the first anniversary of the start of his second term.

The rare appearance comes as the president faces extraordinary pushback from America's European allies over his planned tariffs over Greenland, tensions he'll confront in person this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Trump's planned new tariffs over Greenland as “a mistake especially between long-standing allies” and called into question Trump's trustworthiness, saying that he had agreed last year not to impose more tariffs on members of the bloc.

Trump announced that starting February, a 10 per cent import tax will be imposed on goods from eight European nations that have rallied around Denmark in the wake of his stepped up calls for the United States to take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.

Trump avoids question about previous stated plans to retake Panama Canal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump in his inaugural address last year and during the transition spoke of retaking the Panama Canal.

But Trump in recent months has been relatively quiet about the issue after claiming that China was “operating the Panama Canal” and “we're taking back.” Trump's complaint is that the United States, the shipping lane's biggest user, was “being severely overcharged and not treated fairly.” Asked if the US reclaiming the canal was still on the table, Trump demurred.

“I don't want to tell you that,” the president responded.

Trump says God would be very proud of him ------------------------------------------------ Trump's at-times rambling briefing included a split second of religious reflection.

A reporter asked Trump if he believed God was proud of him, after the president had last year said he believed he got into office because God put him there to save the world.

“I think God is very proud of the job I've done, and that includes for religion,” Trump replied.

“We're protecting a lot of people that are being killed. Christians, Jewish people, lots of people are being protected by me that wouldn't be protected by another type of president.” Trump takes more even tone on Greenland, a day after bombast ---------------------------------------------------------------------- “I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and where we're going to be very happy,” Trump responded, when asked near the end of his press conference about whether splintering was worth his pursuit of the Arctic territory that belongs to Denmark.

That was a notable shift from the text message from Trump to the Norwegian prime minister on Monday that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of peace.” Trump repeated his position that the US needs to take control of the territory for the sake of US national security.

Trump says he won't attend emergency meeting on Greenland —----------------------------------------------------------------- French President Emmanuel Macron this week called for an emergency meeting in Paris with European leaders to address tensions with the US over Trump's pursuit to acquire Greenland as well as tariffs.

Trump told reporters that he would not attend the meeting, in part because Macron would not be leading his country for much longer.

Earlier this week Trump shared private texts from Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on social media.

Trump says Davos speech will recap his success in office ------------------------------------------------------------ The president will use a key address in Davos on Wednesday to highlight his administration's accomplishments, he told reporters.

“I think more than anything else, what I'm going to be speaking about is the tremendous success that we've had in one year,” he said. “I didn't think we could do it this fast.” The White House had previously said the remarks, in a room likely to be occupied with global elites and billionaires, would focus on Trump's affordability agenda, particularly on housing.

Trump said he thought other countries needed to hear advice from him on energy and immigration.

Trump doubles down on opposing UK leasing military base in Indian Ocean ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump repeated his criticism of plans by Britain to lease a military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago.

He said that he favored Britain ownership of the island, saying it's in a “reasonably important area of the globe” though not in as critical a spot as Greenland.

“I think they should keep it,” Trump said of British ownership of the base, suggesting that maybe the United Kingdom needed the money.

Trump says UN should continue, though his Board of Peace might replace it -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “It might,” Trump said when asked about a reporter his envisioned Board of Peace should replace the United Nations.

“The UN just hasn't been very helpful. I'm a big fan of the potential, but it has never lived up to its potential.” But Trump added, “I believe you got to let the U.N. continue, because the potential is so great.” (AP) ARI