The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode Title: Hour 3 – Why Greenland Matters
Date: January 20, 2026
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into President Trump's live press conference, using clips and commentary to discuss the administration's self-assessed successes in its first year, major policy themes, and—centrally—Trump's upcoming appearance at Davos, with a particular focus on the strategic importance of Greenland. The hosts analyze the economic and geopolitical stakes of U.S. interest in Greenland, debate its potential future, and field listener feedback on Trump’s performance. With their signature blend of analysis and banter, the hosts look at why Greenland has become a headline topic and offer context and opinion on America’s latest foreign policy chess move.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Year One Recap

Economic Achievements

• Trump highlights record highs in the stock market and 401k values, emphasizing effects on ordinary Americans’ savings.
• He touts "$9 trillion added to retirement accounts, savings accounts and 401ks... during the course of 12 months" ([03:10]).
• Claims significant reduction in welfare dependency: over 1.2 million Americans off food stamps, with welfare rolls dropping.
• Asserts a “62% reduction in our trade deficit,” downplaying concerns of tariffs causing inflation, “We have no inflation. We have very little inflation. Biden had inflation and he didn’t do tariffs” ([08:47]).
• Major investments announced: “Secured a record-breaking $18 trillion in commitments for new investments... Apple, Nvidia, SoftBank, Oracle...” ([07:15]).

Policy Announcements

• Made car loan interest “tax deductible for U.S. built automobiles only” as an incentive for domestic manufacturing.
• Lists major drug price reductions brokered with pharmaceutical companies—citing drugs now “costing $87 instead of $1,300” ([09:10]).
• Passed the “largest tax cuts in history,” including “no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime.”

Memorable Trump Quote

• "Maybe I have bad public relations people." ([14:13])—Trump expresses frustration about lack of media coverage for his administration's successes.

2. Immigration and Crime

• Trump defends ICE agents: “All ICE wants to do is get them out of our country...They’re patriots. And they have to be abused by guys like Don Lemon, who’s a... loser lightweight” ([11:01]).
• References individuals with multiple convictions who remain in the U.S., arguing for stricter deportation: “Convicted 24 times. He’s going to be good here, right? It doesn’t work that way.”
• Minnesota fraud scandal: Alleges $19 billion missing, implicating figures like Ilhan Omar ([11:56]).
• Hosts reinforce the theme: “No American should be walking around wondering if maybe the person…should have been deported, maybe that person is going to rob, murder, carjack, whatever, me.” ([13:38])

3. Economic Commentary & Challenges

• Buck Sexton observes the messaging challenge for the administration: “The challenge for 2026...is communicating things are getting better in the economy without making people feel like you are not acknowledging the way that they feel when they go to the grocery store.” ([23:46])
• Discussion about the Federal Reserve keeping rates high despite positive economic indicators, with Trump and Buck both expressing frustration.

4. Focus on Greenland: Why It Matters

The Davos Preview & European Response

• Clay Travis: “Laying some...groundwork for...discussions in Davos and specifically over Greenland… going to be a bit of a showdown with some of these European bureaucrat types.” ([25:11])
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, via clip: “The sovereignty and integrity of their territory [Greenland] is non-negotiable.” ([26:35])
• Clay smirks: “Well, I mean, everything has a price.” ([26:45])

Strategic Debate

• Buck: “Why does Denmark get to have control over Greenland?...There is basically no defense of Greenland at all. What if Russia decides that they want to go in and occupy that country because of its strategic value?” ([27:10])
• Comparison to Taiwan and South China Sea—concern over major powers taking unguarded territory as shipping lanes open.

Danish and Greenlandic Perspective

• Clay plays Danish PM clip: “If there is an invasion by American troops, it would be a war and we would be fighting…It is our duty to defend our land and our people.” ([28:10])
• Hosts dismiss the idea of military action—“We’re not, there’s not going to be a war... We love Danes.” ([28:41])

The U.S. Case for Acquisition

• Buck: “If we are going to acquire Greenland, it is going to require us to make cash payments to people who live in Greenland and they’re going to vote to be territorially connected to the United States instead of Denmark.” ([29:01])
• Compares Greenland to the U.S. Virgin Islands purchase in 1917: “Why is that not an analogistic example of what could happen with Greenland?” ([32:03])
• Emphasizes the long-term view on value: “The one thing the guy knows is land value development. He is looking at this...for the next 25—next hundred years.” ([29:18])
• Jokes aside: “You can be rich and American or you can be cold and Danish.” ([29:22])

Policy & Consent

• Buck and Clay both stress that any acquisition would require local consent: “There has to be consent of the people that would be governed. There has to be an agreement...” ([30:18])

5. Listener Grades: Trump Year One

• Multiple call-ins give Trump grades:
  • Dan from Oregon: “I would give him an A plus...He’s basically made all these presidents look pretty bad.” ([40:36])
  • Brian from Worcester: “B plus for Trump...A lot of things that haven’t been addressed as far as...the DOJ.” ([41:06])
  • Roger from Arizona: “I would give Trump A for domestic and an A for foreign relations.” ([41:39])
  • Peter from NYC: “I would give President Trump an A. However, I would give Congress [lower marks]... imagine what could happen if the House and Senate got behind Donald Trump.” ([42:09])
  • Gigi: “I’d give Trump a B plus, but even if I gave him an F, I’d still vote for him again. The left is so crazy...out of touch.” ([43:08])

6. Lighter Moments & Personal Anecdotes

• Alaska vs. Greenland Vacation Banter: Pam from Alaska jokes about it being “hurtful if you go visit Greenland before Alaska” ([43:47]).
• Humor about Clay swimming with sharks and unlikely perils of political punditry ([45:26]).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Trump on Tariffs:
  “We have tremendous national security because of tariffs and tremendous income…we have, and by the way, no inflation. So everyone said, oh, tariffs will cause inflation. We have no inflation. We have very little inflation. Biden had inflation and he didn’t do tariffs.” – [08:36], Donald Trump

• Trump on ICE and Crime:
  “All ICE wants to do is get them out of our country…They’re patriots. And they have to be abused by guys like Don Lemon, who’s a…loser lightweight.” – [11:01], Donald Trump

• Trump on Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Fraud:
  "I was told that Ilhan OMAR is worth $30 million. She never had a job. She's a crooked congressman." – [12:54], Donald Trump

• Clay on Crime & Immigration:
  “No American should be walking around and dealing with, oh, maybe the person...who's already been arrested and should have been deported, maybe that person is going to rob, murder, carjack, whatever, me.” – [13:38], Clay Travis

• Buck on Territorial Logic:
  “The last asset we bought, 1917 U.S. Virgin Islands. Now we bought all three of these islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in cash. Why is that not an analogistic example of what could happen with Greenland?” – [32:03], Buck Sexton

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------------|------------| | Trump's economic record/stock markets | Donald Trump | 03:10-09:10| | On ICE, Don Lemon, and immigration crime | Donald Trump | 11:01 | | Minnesota fraud & Ilhan Omar | Donald Trump | 11:56 | | Trump’s PR/media frustration | Donald Trump | 14:10 | | Economic commentary (Fed & messaging) | Buck/Clay | 23:46 | | Ursula von der Leyen: Greenland non-negotiable| von der Leyen | 26:35 | | Strategic rationale for Greenland | Clay/Buck | 27:10-29:18| | Danish PM: “We would defend Greenland” | Danish PM (clip) | 28:10 | | Listener call-ins: Trump grades | Various | 40:36-43:08| | Alaska vs. Greenland banter | Clay/Buck/Pam | 43:47-45:22|

Closing Thoughts

Clay and Buck guide listeners through the news with a mix of analysis and humor, casting Trump’s focus on Greenland not as a wild idea but as a strategic consideration with historical precedent. The hosts are skeptical of alarmism from Europe and Denmark, maintaining the importance of negotiation and local consent. Throughout, they revisit Trump’s first-year claims, take listener evaluations, and keep the tone irreverent—with plenty of football and personal asides. This episode makes a case that what happens in Greenland matters far beyond the Arctic Circle, with big-picture implications for America’s global posture and security.