Davos, Jan 21 (AP) US President Donald Trump insisted he wants to “get Greenland, including right, title and ownership,” but he said he wouldn't employ force to achieve that — using his speech Wednesday at the World Economic Forum to repeatedly deride European allies and vow that NATO shouldn't stand in the way of US expansionism.

He urged NATO to allow the US to take Greenland from Denmark and added an extraordinary warning, saying alliance members can say yes, “and we'll be very appreciative. Or you can say, No,' and we will remember.” Trump tried to focus on his efforts to tame inflation and spur the economy back home. But his more than 70-minute address focused more on his gripes with other countries.

Here is the latest: Trump's chat with World Economic Forum CEO wraps --------------------------------------------------------- The president did not make any major news in the discussion, which lasted about 20 minutes. Trump then left the stage.

Trump repeats campaign promises that US can grow its way out of debt problems ------------------------------------------------------------ Asked about US debt climbing toward USD 40 trillion — more than the size of the annual US economy — Trump insisted that he can solve the problem with economic growth and eliminating fraud and excessive spending.

“I think we're going to be paying off debt,” he boasted.

Trump made similar promises when he first ran for president in 2016 and again in 2024. He has added more to US debt totals than any president.

He repeated claims about fraud in Minnesota, mentioning the figure USD 19 billion — a miniscule fraction of annual federal spending that is measured in trillions. Trump also said the US is cutting spending, although he has exaggerated the effects of his government efficiency efforts.

Trump suggests a shared culture' between US and Europe -------------------------------------------------------------- Leaving vague exactly what kind of “culture” that he meant, Trump said the West has prospered because of a shared and “very special” one.

“This is the precious inheritance that America and Europe have in common,” Trump said. “We share it. But we have to keep it strong.” Trump added that he wanted to “defend that culture” and “rediscover the spirit that lifted the West from the depths of the dark ages to the pinnacle of human achievement.” Many Americans descend from Europeans, including settlers who came to the North American continent hundreds of years ago. But the Trump administration also has faced criticism at times for focusing on that side of US culture when the country's population is far more diverse.

Trump wraps up his remarks after more than 70 minutes ------------------------------------------------------------ The president finished his speech by congratulating the people in the room for all their successes and declared that the U.S. is “back, bigger, stronger, better than ever before.” “I'll see you around,” he said.

He then sat down on a chair on stage for a question-and-answer session with World Economic Forum CEO Borge Brende, who was seated throughout Trump's remarks.

Trump claims without us, most of the countries don't even work' ------------------------------------------------------------------- He's taken digs at French President Emmanuel Macron over Europe for selling pharmaceuticals to the US at a premium. He ripped Denmark for a lack of appreciation for the U.S. protection of Greenland during World War II. And he's blasted NATO for being too dependent on the United States.

“The United States is keeping the whole world afloat,” he said.

A tale about Swiss watches ------------------------------ While speaking in Switzerland, Trump told a story about the country that he said “rubbed me the wrong way.” He said Switzerland makes beautiful Rolex watches, but “were paying nothing to the United States” to export them. So, he set a tariff, which he said caused representatives from the country and the company to call and visit him and urge him to reverse it.

He brought down the tariff, but said he felt the country was “taking advantage” of the US.

“A majority of the money they make is because of us, because we never charge them anything,” he said.

Nearly an hour in, Trump talks US housing and pans some affordability policies ------------------------------------------------------------------- Talking about the US market, Trump threw a curveball, saying essentially that he didn't want to simply expand housing supply because it could lower values for people who already own homes.

“If I want to really crush the housing market, I could do that so fast,” he said. But, “I don't want to do anything to hurt” people who have built wealth through their home equity.

“I don't want to do anything to hurt” existing homeowners, Trump said. He instead emphasized his desire to see lower interest rates, though that is a policy that, over time, would drive home prices up because it fuels demand.

Trump mocks Macron's sunglasses ------------------------------------- Trump mocked French President Emmanuel Macron's sunglasses to audience's laughter.

“I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?” Trump said to the loudest laughter so far.

The French president has worn sunglasses indoors in recent days as he's joked about a “completely harmless” eye condition.

Read more about Macron Trump says he will meet Ukrainian president ------------------------------------------------ Trump says he's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

The meeting was not on Trump's publicly released calendar and it was not clear if he meant a virtual or in-person meeting.

Zelenskyy is not believed to be in Davos.

Trump blasts Denmark for insufficient military spending on Greenland -------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump asserted that Denmark promised to spend “over USD 200 million to strengthen Greenland's defences” and then insisted it has “spent less than 1 per cent of that.” He was referring to a 2019 commitment from the Danish government, made during Trump's first presidency, when he first floated the idea of the US taking control of the semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

Copenhagen has not disputed that the implementation of that commitment has been slow.

In recent weeks, with Trump pushing the US takeover again, Denmark's Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen unveiled an expanded defense plan with a USD 2 billion budget that includes three new ships, long-range drones and more satellite capacity.

Trump did not mention that latest commitment.

Trump calls Greenland a strategic piece of ice that US must take -------------------------------------------------------------------- We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won't give it,” Trump said in Davos speech.

“You can say yes and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember.” Trump taunts Canada ---------------------- Trump needled his northern neighbor after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that the current phase of global diplomacy was a “rupture” and called for “middle powers” to “act together.” Trump said Canada gets many “freebies” from the U.S. and “should be grateful.” He said Carney's Davos speech showed he “wasn't so grateful.” “Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.” Once again, Trump falsely insists the 2020 election was rigged' ---------------------------------------------------------------- Before the audience in Davos, Trump repeated a claim he's said before that the Russian war on Ukraine “wouldn't have started” if the 2020 US presidential election “weren't rigged.” One thing is for certain: The 2020 election was not stolen. Biden earned 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. Trump's allegations of massive voting fraud have been broadly refuted.

Trump, who has long been calling for prosecutions related to the 2020 election, added that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did.” It wasn't immediately clear what he meant.

Trump says Venezuelan oil industry will do fantastically well' with US help ------------------------------------------------------------------ Trump reiterated that he's getting cooperation from Venezuelan officials following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro and predicted good times for the South American country's economy.

“Every major oil company is coming in with us,” Trump said. 'It's amazing.” Earlier this month, at a White House meeting, Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods said the Venezuelan market is “un-investable” in its current state.

Trump says Greenland push is not about the need to secure sought-after rare earth elements -------------------------------------------------------------------- The president cited the difficulty of mining on the Arctic island.

“You got to go through hundreds of feet of ice,” he said. That's not the reason we need it.” Instead, he said the US needs it for “strategic national security and international security.” (AP) RD RD