Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode: Ep. 2352 – “OPERATION GREENLAND: Trump Takes Davos!”
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Episode Overview
This episode centers around President Trump’s headline-making appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, focusing on his speech confronting European leaders, a highly-publicized attempted deal over Greenland, and larger issues of American and European strategic interests. Ben Shapiro breaks down Trump’s approach, the mood among U.S. allies, reactions from politicians like Gavin Newsom, and the implications for U.S. foreign policy and domestic regulation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump Takes Davos: Message to Europe
- Trump arrives in Davos amid fears of sweeping U.S. tariffs on Europe tied to U.S. demands for more control over Greenland.
- He delivers a direct and critical speech, urging European allies to take more responsibility for their own defense, economies, and borders.
- Trump critiques Europe’s move away from its civilizational roots, stagnating economies, and “unrecognizable” changes largely driven by migration and green energy mandates.
- Trump ties American and European fates together, emphasizing a shared Western culture and history.
Quote:
“Certain places in Europe are not even recognizable, frankly, anymore… and that’s not in a positive way. I love Europe and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.” – Donald Trump (08:07)
- He highlights American economic dominance as beneficial for the world:
“When America booms, the entire world booms.” – Donald Trump (10:49)
- Trump critiques European green energy as a “complete fail,” particularly targeting wind energy:
“There are windmills all over the place and they are losers. One thing I’ve noticed is that the more windmills a country has, the more money that country loses…” – Donald Trump (09:56)
2. Operation Greenland: The Deal and the Stakes
- Trump had threatened wide-ranging tariffs on the EU if Denmark didn’t agree to U.S. sovereignty over Greenland.
- The President clarifies in Davos he won’t use force to acquire Greenland, but frames U.S. demands as minimal compared to decades of protection given to Europe.
- He suggests U.S. ownership of Greenland is key to defending it effectively and hints at broader U.S. and NATO interests in the Arctic, including rare earth minerals.
Quote:
“All we’re asking for is to get Greenland, including right title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease.” – Donald Trump (18:06)
- A framework deal is reached—modeled after Britain’s bases in Cyprus—granting the U.S. sovereignty over select military base areas in Greenland, without annexing the territory.
- This arrangement would expand U.S. operations and development autonomy in Greenland, particularly important for defense and rare earth mining.
Insight:
- The deal backs Europe away from a tariff war, but leaves open questions about long-term U.S.-European relations and strategic orientation.
Quote:
“The solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America and all NATO nations… I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled…” – Trump statement as quoted by Ben (19:54)
3. European & Political Reactions
European Leaders Respond (25:52–26:21)
- Christine Lagarde (ECB):
- Treats Trump’s moves as a “major wake-up call,” suggesting Europe needs more self-reliance.
- “Europe is going to look at its strength, look at its weaknesses… decide… to be strong by ourselves.” (25:52)
- Mark Rudy (NATO Secretary General):
- Reaffirms alliance: “If ever the US is under attack, your allies will be with you. Absolutely.” (26:21)
Gavin Newsom’s Counterprogramming (29:10–31:44)
- Present in Davos, Newsom tries to position himself as Trump’s main Democratic foil on the global stage.
- Critiques Trump’s speech as “remarkably insignificant” and filled with “normalization of deviancy.” (29:15–30:10)
- Repeats his running “knee pads” joke about European appeasement of Trump (31:07), positions himself as having the right message for Europe.
Quote:
“It was remarkably boring. It was remarkably insignificant. He was never going to invade Greenland. It was never real.” – Gavin Newsom (29:43)
- Ben highlights Newsom’s strategy—using friction with Trump to raise his own national and international profile.
Trump Administration Retorts
- Scott Bessens (Treasury Secretary):
- Dunks on Newsom: “Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken… here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros.” (33:37)
4. Iran and the Board of Peace Initiative
- Ben covers Trump’s assertion that Iran has been “hemmed in,” following tough U.S. actions against the regime and its nuclear program (36:09).
- Iran’s official organs blame foreign actors for domestic unrest; Ben, referencing WSJ editorials, calls out regime lies and highlights the prospect for U.S.-led regime change.
- Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza includes controversial actors like Russia, Turkey, Qatar, Belarus, and Brazil. Ben questions the wisdom and values underlying this inclusive approach (43:01).
- Trump claims Hamas has agreed to give up its weapons; Ben is deeply skeptical and questions who will enforce disarmament (44:25).
Quote:
“If [Hamas doesn’t disarm], they’re going to have, they’ll be blown away very quickly.” – Donald Trump (44:55)
5. Ukraine-Russia War and Multipolarity Tensions
- Trump urges Ukrainian and Russian leaders to reach a deal, or be considered “stupid” (45:38).
- Ben expands on the broader question: is America shifting to a true “America First” policy or reverting to “America Alone”—and how does this reshape global alliances?
- The episode raises, but leaves open, whether we’re entering a “multipolar world order” or simply seeing a reassertion of American power.
6. U.S. Domestic Policy: Fetal Tissue Research Ban
- Interview with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (NIH Director, 47:01–52:42).
- New Trump policy: Bans all NIH support for research using aborted fetal tissue, not just within NIH but in outside institutions as well.
- Miscarriage tissue remains allowed.
- Scientific advances (like induced pluripotent stem cells) mean this ban has minimal impact on biomedical progress.
- Dr. Bhattacharya frames the move as respecting broad ethical objections and minimizing any negative scientific effects.
Quote:
“The use of human fetal tissue in research has been declining pretty sharply even after the Biden administration sort of reversed the ban… There’s no scientific harm to this.” – Dr. Bhattacharya (48:30–49:26)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“There are windmills all over the place and they are losers… China makes almost all of the windmills… they make them, they sell them for a fortune… they sell them to the stupid people that buy them.” – Donald Trump (09:56)
-
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
– Donald Trump to Mark Carney (12:36) -
“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it… You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember.” – Donald Trump (19:29)
-
“Governor Newsom… may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris. He’s here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros.” – Scott Bessens (33:37)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------| | 05:15 | Trump’s arrival and opening speech at Davos | | 06:58 | Trump’s comedic opening at the World Economic Forum| | 07:25 | Trump ties U.S.-Europe history and culture | | 09:56 | Trump’s attack on European green energy | | 10:49 | “When America booms, world booms”—Trump | | 16:55 | Greenland: No force, only “right title and ownership”| | 19:54 | Announcement of Greenland deal framework | | 25:52 | European reactions: Lagarde and Rudy | | 29:10 | Gavin Newsom’s critique and knee pads joke | | 33:37 | Scott Bessens’ retort | | 36:09 | Trump on Iran and regional stability | | 43:01 | Trump on Gaza Board of Peace—including Putin | | 44:25 | Trump: Hamas must disarm or face consequences | | 45:38 | Trump: Russia/Ukraine leaders “stupid if not” settle| | 47:01 | Dr. Jay Bhattacharya: new NIH fetal tissue policy | | 49:35 | “No scientific harm to this” – Dr. Bhattacharya |
Tone & Language
- Ben Shapiro’s delivery is brisk, skeptical, and analytical, largely aligned with conservative and nationalist perspectives.
- Trump’s speech is characteristically brash—confident, cutting, with moments of humor and bluntness.
- European officials (Lagarde, Rudy) show concern and a mix of defiance and reassurance.
- Gavin Newsom deploys sarcasm and challenges Trump’s gravitas on the world stage, with Ben critiquing him for opportunism.
Conclusion
Episode 2352 captures a pivotal week in U.S. foreign relations as President Trump flexes American influence at Davos, brokers a partial sovereignty deal in Greenland, and signals a more muscular American posture globally. European allies are uneasy; Democrats like Gavin Newsom position themselves as alternatives. Meanwhile, the Trump administration pushes forward on culture-war and science policy at home. The episode asks, without fully answering: is the Trump approach effective statesmanship or a catalyst for a multipolar and less U.S.-centric global order?