Trump Meeting with Greenland Goes Off the Rails

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Meeting with Greenland Goes Off the Rails

Release Date: January 15, 2026

Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the aftermath and global fallout of a disastrous White House meeting between Trump's administration and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. The brothers analyze the meeting’s implications for NATO, European security, alarming military escalations in Greenland, and Donald Trump's erratic statements and behavior. Throughout, the hosts combine sharp political analysis with their trademark humor and concern for democracy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The White House-Greenland Meeting Implodes (01:35)

• The Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers walk out of a White House meeting with top Trump officials (including J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio), angered over the administration’s insistence on "conquering Greenland."

• Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, reports:

  "We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering... Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom." (03:00)

• Greenland’s government and three-quarters of its population firmly oppose any change in sovereignty.

• Denmark reaffirms Greenland’s NATO status:

  "Greenland is, through the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of NATO and has been that since the very founding of NATO in '49 and is therefore also covered by Article 5." (04:08)

2. Escalating Military Tensions in Greenland (04:20)

• In direct response to U.S. threats, European countries—including Germany, Sweden, and France—rapidly deploy forces and open consulates in Greenland.

• Denmark initiates “Operation Arctic Endurance,” reinforcing military infrastructure and preparing defensive positions.

• Host’s analysis:

  "Europe is on high alert preparing for a United States invasion and Europe is ready to go to war if necessary to protect Denmark and Greenland." (01:35)

3. Trump’s Social Media and Public Statements (05:20)

• The Trump White House posts a meme depicting a false choice for Greenland between the U.S. and Russia/China, despite Greenland’s existing NATO status.

• Trump posts:

  "The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of national security. ... NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. ... Anything less than that is unacceptable."
  — quoting Trump’s post, Host (05:45)

• Host commentary:

  "You owning it like the Predator that you are does not create a safer security environment. It creates a weaker environment and puts the United States at war with Europe." (06:50)

4. Remarks from Greenlandic Officials (07:03)

• Greenland’s foreign minister emphasizes the importance of mutual respect:

  "We have shown where our limits are...it’s all our interest to find the right path. ... I would like to have this...hope for more mutual understanding and trying to find the right balances, equally from all countries." (07:03)

5. Public and Political Response in the U.S. (08:15)

• Latest Reuters Ipsos poll: Only 4% of American Republicans support using military force in Greenland.

• Host highlights the absurdity and public opposition:

  "Overwhelmingly, people do not want a military invasion of Greenland." (08:15)

• While tensions mount, Trump is distracted, holding an Oval Office press conference about milk, even dozing off.

  • Trump:

    "Milk would help your cognitive ability? Absolutely. ... I've taken a lot of [cognitive tests]. I've aced every one of them because I drink milk." (09:26)

6. Trump’s Attitude on Power and Law (10:12)

• Trump claims in The New York Times and at a press event that the only check on his power is "my own morality, my own mind."
  • Trump:

    "Yeah, there's one thing. My own morality, my own mind. It's the only thing that can stop. ... I don't need international law." (10:17)

7. Update on Iran Protests (12:21)

• Trump claims to have received reassurances from Iran’s Ayatollah that protester executions have stopped, despite reports of thousands of dead protesters and an ongoing internet blackout.
  • Trump:

    "We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and it's stopped stopping. ... That's just gotten to me some information that the killing has stopped, that the executions have stopped." (12:48)

8. Propaganda and Personality Politics (13:35)

• State media and right-wing commentators fixate on Trump’s supposed "record testosterone" (per Dr. Oz), and claim he’s not a misogynist, listing women in his orbit as proof.

  • Political Commentator:

    "President Trump has the highest testosterone level of any man over 70 that he's ever seen." (13:57)
    "He's the worst misogynist, meaning that he's not a misogynist." (15:02)

9. Gen Z’s Political Lean and Trump’s Approval Collapse (15:45)

• Gen Z’s party identification has swung dramatically toward Democrats (from a 6 to a 20-point margin).

  • Political Analyst:

    "He [Trump] was at plus 10 points on the net approval rating...that is a drop of 42 points to negative 32 points...amongst Generation Z." (16:57)

10. Contrasting Leadership Styles: Macron’s Statement (17:22)

• French President Emmanuel Macron visits Greenland, voicing European solidarity and support for Greenland's sovereignty.

  • Macron:

    "Everybody in France, in the European Union, thinks that Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken. ... This is why it's very important for French people and all the European people to convey very clearly this message of solidarity...we stand with you now for today and for tomorrow." (17:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Danish FM, 03:00): "It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering... Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom."
• Donald Trump (Milk Cognitive Abilities, 09:26): "I've taken a lot of [cognitive tests]. I've aced every one of them because I drink milk."
• Trump on Limits to Power (10:17): "There's one thing. My own morality, my own mind. It's the only thing that can stop. ... I don't need international law."
• French President Macron (17:45): "Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken...we stand with you now for today and for tomorrow."
• Host (Ben, on escalation, 01:35): "Europe is on high alert preparing for a United States invasion and Europe is ready to go to war if necessary to protect Denmark and Greenland."

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:35 – News of the disastrous White House meeting; Denmark, Greenland, and U.S. confrontation.
• 03:00 – Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen’s reaction and quotes.
• 04:08 – Greenland’s NATO status and implications.
• 04:20 – Deployment of EU/NATO forces to Greenland.
• 05:45 – Trump’s post about the need to "own" Greenland.
• 07:03 – Greenlandic Foreign Minister’s cautious but firm statement.
• 09:26 – Trump’s bizarre milk/cognitive abilities remarks.
• 10:17 – Trump on the only limit to his power.
• 12:48 – Trump’s claim about Iran executions stopping.
• 13:57 – State media on Trump’s "testosterone."
• 15:45 – Gen Z’s political shift and Trump’s collapse in approval rating.
• 17:45 – Macron’s clear stance on Greenland sovereignty.

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Tone & Style

• The episode is packed with biting wit, incredulous humor, and the Meiselas brothers’ signature mix of legal, political, and media insight.
• Hosts are deeply critical of Trump’s behavior and policies but stay grounded, presenting international perspectives and serious polling while employing sarcasm, especially toward right-wing media narratives.

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Summary

This episode highlights the gravity and absurdity of Trump’s policy toward Greenland, the dramatic international backlash, the escalation toward military confrontation with European NATO allies, and Trump’s erratic public posture, as well as his plummeting reputation among young Americans. The Meiselas brothers critique this administration with informed outrage, sharp humor, and pointed concern for the health of American democracy and the global order.

Transcript

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[Host/Narrator]

A disastrous meeting just unfolded at the White House between the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and the top Trump administration officials, J.D. vance, Marco Rubio and others. You saw right there the Danish Foreign minister, Lars Loke Rasmussen walking out, running out, very angry about what just transpired at the White House. Rasmussen, the foreign minister of Denmark, spoke to the press after this horrible meeting where he said it was clear that the Trump regime wants to conquer Greenland and that they really had no interest in compromise. They kept on talking about conquering Greenland, conquering Denmark, going to war, invading, and that is unacceptable to us. Let me show you what Denmark's Foreign Minister Rasmussen had to say and then I want to talk about what's now happening with European countries sending their military into Greenland right now. Whether it's Germany, whether it's France opening up a consulate, Sweden sending its special forces there. Europe is on high alert preparing for a United States invasion and Europe is ready to go to war if necessary to protect Denmark and Greenland. Here's Denmark's foreign minister after the Greenland meeting saying it's clear that Trump wishes to conquer Greenland. Play this clip.

[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]

But it's not that I'm now, you know, saying everything is solved. It's not solved. We didn't manage. But I honestly speaking, I didn't believe that that was doable. We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering over over Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom. There's a government in Greenland with support from three quarters of the Greenlandic population. The premier made it very, very clear yesterday that Greenland, for the time being and for foreseeable future, will remain within the Kingdom of Denmark. And therefore this is a common position that we want to work with our American friends and allies, but it must be respectful cooperation and it must respect the red lines.

[Host/Narrator]

Here you'll have you'll watch the Danish foreign minister as well talk about how Greenland has been a member of NATO since 1949. Play this clip right here.

[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]

Greenland is, through the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of NATO and has been that since the very founding of NATO in 49 and is therefore also covered by Article 5.

[Host/Narrator]

I'm going to show you more from that press conference in just a moment, but it's important that you note that Germany is now deploying troops into Greenland. You have Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersen has announced that several officers from the Swedish armed forces will arrive in Greenland on Wednesday at the request of Denmark in order to support military and security operations on the territory and in the northern Atlantic. Under the recently unveiled Operation Arctic Endurance, Denmark is now deploying more special forces and heavy military equipment equipment to Greenland to establish defensive positions and logistical infrastructure ahead of a larger Danish army employment there in response to the United States threats of invasion that's being coordinated with the Germans, the French, Sweden and others within the European Union. And the overall takeaway from this disastrous meeting, Denmark's foreign minister saying we didn't manage to change America's position on Greenland. They want to conquer it. They want to take it with force. You have the White House posting the following meme while the meeting was taking place. Which way? Greenland man and in the one hand it shows the United States. On the other hand it shows a flag of Russia and China. But Greenland is a member of NATO. So this is a false choice that the White House is giving. Greenland and Denmark would be protected by the NATO alliance, but Donald Trump wants to break apart the NATO alliance for Vladimir Putin. This morning, Donald Trump posted the United States needs Greenland for the purpose of national security. It is vital for the golden dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. If we don't, Russia or China will. And that is not going to happen militarily. Without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent, not even close. They know that and so do I. NATO becomes a far more formidable and effective force with Greenland in the hands of the United States. And anything less than that is unacceptable. Thank you for your attention to this matter. DJT Greenland is part of NATO. The United States is part of NATO. You owning it like the Predator that you are does not create a safer security environment. It creates a weaker environment and puts the United States at war with Europe. Let's go back to that press conference with Rasmussen. He's there with the Greenland foreign minister. I want you to hear what she has to say as well. Let's play that clip right here.

[Greenlandic Foreign Minister]

I think that what we have been saying, that the meeting has been on a respect way and we have shown where our limits are. And from there I think that it will be very good to look forward and this high level group that is going to work together, as I'm already saying that it's all our interest to find the right path. It's all according to the security in Northern hemisphere. So I don't want to say more than what we discussed in the closed meeting room, but I would like to have this, How do you say it in English? Hope for more mutual understanding and trying to find the right balances is equally from all countries.

[Host/Narrator]

Now, in terms of the latest Reuters Ipsos poll, is it a good idea for the United States to take Greenland using military force? Only 4% of Americans, Republicans say yes, overwhelmingly, people do not want a military invasion of Greenland. Now, while that meeting broke apart pretty quickly, abruptly ended as a fight broke out essentially between Greenland, Denmark and the United States. Vance and Rubio saying we're conquering you. Donald Trump was holding a press conference in the Oval Office about milk and about how more people need to drink milk. That's what they were doing. The press conference on Donald Trump was falling asleep during this meeting. On camera here's Donald Trump falling asleep. Play this clip and all the wonderful.

[Political Commentator]

Men to the right who worked so hard on this. PETER welsh it is a bipartisan issue and understanding where we are in this.

[Host/Narrator]

Country and how important the health of.

[Political Commentator]

Certainly our children are is so important.

[Host/Narrator]

Then during this meeting, Donald Trump asks if milk will help your cognitive abilities. And he's kind of asleep and he's like milk will help your cognitive abilities, will help your Cognitive. Here, play this clip right here.

[Donald Trump]

It's important what that brain is getting during the development. Is it getting soda or is it getting milk? So milk would help your cognitive ability? Absolutely. You can tell who's been taking cognitive tests? I've taken a lot of them. I've aced every one of them because I drink milk. It's good for and it shows.

[Host/Narrator]

I just want to remind you that leading into this meeting between the foreign ministers of Greenland, Denmark and in the United states, Rubio and J.D. vance, Donald Trump told the New York Times that the only check on his power is his own morality. That he doesn't believe he has any checks on who he's going to conquer. Here, play this clip right here.

[Political Commentator]

See any checks on your power on the world stage? Is there anything that could stop you if you wanted to?

[Donald Trump]

Yeah, there's one thing. My own morality, my own mind. It's the only thing that can stop. And that's very good. I don't need international law. I'm not looking to hurt people.

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[Host/Narrator]

Notably, at this press conference, Donald Trump claimed that he got a message from the Ayatollah of Iran. And Iran says they will not be killing any more of the protesters there after it potentially killed as many as 20,000 protesters. We've heard conflicting numbers. There's an Internet outage there right now. It could be in the low thousands, as high as 20,000. But Trump says he got the word from the Ayatollah. Things are good now here. Play this clip right here.

[Donald Trump]

We have been notified and pretty strongly, but we'll find out what that all means. But we've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and it's stopped stopping. And there's no plan for executions or an execution or executions. So I've been told that a good authority will find out about it. I'm sure if happens, we'll all be very upset, including you will be very upset. But that's just gotten to me some information that the killing has stopped, that the executions have stopped. They're not going to have an execution, which a lot of people are talking about for the last couple of days, as today was going to be the day of execution.

[Host/Narrator]

And just checking in on the state regime media, what they're talking about while Donald Trump's threatening to invade Greenland and saying he's got the good old word from the Ayatollah that the killings are going to stop. And he's talking about cognitive exams. This is what they're seriously talking about on state regime media. They're saying that Dr. Oz says that Donald Trump has the highest testosterone ever.

[Political Commentator]

You play this clip I saw this morning. Actually it was Dr. Oz who said that President Trump has the highest testosterone level of any man over 70 that he's ever seen. So you compare, he knows that he actually went on to say like President Trump's gonna be really thrilled that I, that I said that. But you compare President Trump to someone, I mean, any of the Democratic male leaders, someone like Tim Walls, if you will, you know, Mr. Jazz Hands. You ask any 20 year old boy, especially on a college campus, who they would rather spend a day golfing with. President Trump or Tim Waltz. You have to imagine that majority of them are going to say President Trump.

[Host/Narrator]

And then they say Donald Trump is not a misogynist. Just look at how he treats the women around him. And then gains. She's like, he's the worst misogynist, meaning that he's not a misogynist.

[Advertiser 2]

Huh?

[Host/Narrator]

You're playing this clip right away.

[Political Commentator]

He respects women. He's hired a lot of tremendously talented women. We've interviewed.

[Advertiser 1]

Absolutely.

[Political Commentator]

We've met them. And my dad, former military, as you know, used to say that the test of a man is how he treats the women in his life. Can he be that alpha and be loving and generous and all those things? Yeah, they call him a misogynist, but really he's like the worst misogynist ever. Gives way.

[Advertiser 1]

Yes.

[Political Commentator]

Susie Wiles, Tulsi Gabbard, Caroline Levitt, all wonderful women, a part of his team.

[Host/Narrator]

And just what's Gen Z thinking about all of this right now? Gen Z doesn't. Doug, what about us? Okay. You promised that you were going to help us get jobs. You defrauded us, Donald. Yep. He's defrauded lots of people throughout his entire life. Here, play this clip.

[Political Analyst]

Take a look here. Generation Z, Jon, like that gen Z party ID margin Dems versus the GOP in 2024. Look at this. It was just a six point margin between the Democrats, Republicans. Democrats just led by six point, very small. Remember, Donald Trump did very well for a Republican candidate amongst the youngest part of the electorate. But take a look here. 2025, hello. A huge widening of the lead for Democrats among Generation Z. Tripling their, their lead on party identification from 6 all the way up to 20. That was in fact the largest shift, considerably more so than any other group. Yes, there was a shift in the overall electorate, but this more than double the shift that we saw among the electorate at large towards the Democratic Party.

[Political Commentator]

Okay.

[Host/Narrator]

And we said it was decisive for Donald Trump. How have opinions shifted toward Donald Trump among this group?

[Political Analyst]

Okay, so this, in some ways, you know, you might say this, oh, this doesn't necessarily apply to Donald Trump. It absolutely does apply to Donald Trump. I mean, he has just fallen off a cliff when it comes to Generation Z. Look at this. Donald Trump's net approval rating in February of 2025. John said it right. Wow.

[Host/Narrator]

This was actually a month into the administration.

[Political Analyst]

This was a month into the administration. He was at plus 10 points on the net approval rating. He was on the right side of the ledger. Look at this falling off that cliff. That is a drop of 42 points to negative 32 points on the net approval rating amongst Generation Z. My goodness gracious. This, as I said, is a very swingy group and it has swung very much away from Donald John Trump.

[Host/Narrator]

And let me just share with you what a real leader looks like and sounds like I'm not like on this issue. I'm not trying to fanboy out on France President Emmanuel Macron. Some things I like, some things I don't. But French President Emmanuel Macron back several months back when he visited Greenland. Let me show you what leadership looks like in terms of respecting the sovereignty of countries. Here, play this clip.

[Emmanuel Macron]

Everybody think in France, in the European Union that Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken. The situation in Greenland is clearly a wake up call for all the Europeans. And let me tell you very directly that you, you are not alone. And when a strategic message, And when a strategic message is sent to you, I want just for you to know that it's clearly perceived by the Europeans as targeting a European land. And this flag you have here is our common flag. And we know our common values and we know our long standing choices. And this is why it's very important for French people and all the European people to convey very clearly this message of solidarity and the fact that we stand with you now for today and for tomorrow.

[Host/Narrator]

Well, there you have it folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. We appreciate all of your support.

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[Political Commentator]

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