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Trump Reveals Private Messages from E.U. Leaders on Greenland; What's Trump's Motivation for Wanting Greenland? Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired January 20, 2026 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[06:00:02]
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: And thank you for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon, live in New York. CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning everyone. I'm Audie Cornish. And right now on CNN THIS MORNING, can European leaders defuse President Trump at Davos? Well, he's now leaking his chats with world leaders. The treasury secretary is urging calm over Greenland.
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SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: Sit back. Take a deep breath and let things play out.
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CORNISH: Anti-ICE protesters who stormed a church in Minnesota now under investigation. What specific crime did they commit?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Trump administration will charge everyone except people who are actually violating the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: And it's a Cinderella story. The Indiana Hoosiers take home their first national championship trophy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I waited my entire life for this. We have not come even close to anything like this. The Indiana Hoosiers are national champions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: But we begin with this breaking news. President Trump leaks what he says are private messages from European leaders concerned over his threats to annex Greenland.
The message from French President Emmanuel Macron: "I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland."
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte tells Trump he is committed to finding a way forward on Greenland.
In the meantime, Trump gets a face-to-face with the two leaders tomorrow in Davos for the World Economic Forum. He and his team expressing optimism and urging leaders to calm down in the face of his threats.
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DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I don't think they're going to push back too much. Look, we have to have it. They have to have this done. They can't protect it.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): We've always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends, and we will continue to do that. I want to assure you this morning that that is still the case.
BESSENT: Calm down the hysteria. Take a deep breath.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: But Denmark has a strong warning for the president.
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RASMUS JARLOV, DANISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER; We will, of course, defend Greenland. If there is an invasion by American troops, it would be a war. And we would be fighting against each other.
We know that the Americans are stronger than us, and you have a much stronger military than ours. But it is our duty to defend our land and our people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Zach Wolf, CNN politics senior writer; Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to the Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns; and Kristen Soltis Anderson, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist and pollster.
So, a couple developments this morning. I believe that Mike Johnson actually addressed the U.K. Parliament, vowing to calm tensions.
I want to play this for you, because he also went on Nigel Farage's show and was asked directly about the pursuit of Greenland and what Trump is doing. And Farage is, of course, known as being an ally of Trump. So, here's what happened.
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NIGEL FARAGE, MEMBER OF U.K. PARLIAMENT: This is -- I mean, this is the biggest fracture in our relationship between our two countries since Suez in 1956. This is serious. And -- and you're here about to speak before Parliament. I mean, is there nothing that can be done here?
JOHNSON: Well, I'm here to encourage our friends and calm the situation.
Look, I think we're going to get beyond this little rift. I don't think it's a threat to NATO or to this special relationship that we have, in the long run.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Which kind of flies against these texts that have been released. What did you notice in the texts?
ZACH WOLF, CNN POLITICS SENIOR WRITER: Well, first of all, Mike Johnson, "little rift." He sounds completely different than the president on this.
CORNISH: Right. And so does Bessent.
WOLF: Yes. I mean, they -- they are saying something completely different.
And those text messages, I thought it was interesting. Why would Trump release these? They -- they were showing the -- the little rift that Mike Johnson was talking about.
They also kind of showed -- and maybe this is what he was trying to do -- the sort of deference that the world leaders are showing him. Macron, Let's -- let's do dinner on Thursday and talk this out, kind of a thing.
So, Trump is showing that he's -- they're -- they're still being nice to him and coming to him. But that was a head scratcher, like --
CORNISH: Yes.
WOLF: -- what is he at?
CORNISH: Well, it shows them, I think -- Macron, who actually has spoken quite strongly, saying that, Hey, maybe Europe should use its own economic nuclear option to kind of go after the U.S.
What do you guys see in how this is playing out, now that they've actually landed in Europe and actually have to have these conversations face-to-face? Kristen.
KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I mean, to me, this is -- it is baffling on a number of levels.
It's deeply unpopular. It's even not that popular with Trump's own base, the idea of engaging in military activity in Greenland.
[06:05:07]
But what it really is, I think, is Donald Trump, his real estate guy -- I want to acquire territory and assets -- is coming out in full force.
I think he thinks that these like, tough, mafia-style tactics are how you negotiate a better deal.
But I'm really glad to see that, at least right now. I mean, this -- this, in some ways, feels a little reminiscent of Trump's first term, when he would say and do things, and there were, like, a number of adults in the room that would be like, let's -- let's maybe not do that. We actually haven't seen as much of that this term.
CORNISH: The adults or --
ANDERSON: Well, the -- the attempt from within his own party, his own cabinet to say --
CORNISH: To constrain him, yes.
ANDERSON: -- to try to constrain or contain him. And that's what this feels like they have -- they are realizing this one is way too far.
CHUCK ROCHA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: And the American electorate coming up less than a year from the midterms, are kind of where Macron is.
They kind of would understand Venezuela dictator seems bad. Taking rid of a dictator seems OK, maybe. Iran seems bad. Seems Iran has done bad things before, but Greenland?
CORNISH: Yes.
ROCHA: That's where the American public is.
CORNISH: CNN polling was showing that independents, something like 82 percent opposed the Greenland conversation.
ROCHA: And we're not talking about gas and groceries and regular things as we move towards the summer.
CORNISH: I want to play one more thing for you. Don Bacon, who's been on a roll since, you know, he's in a YOLO situation. He was saying that he is, of course, very against this. And here's how far he went.
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REP. DON BACON (R-NE): One way or the other way, whether it's even Republican control or if it's Democrat, -- Democrat control after November, I think it would lead to impeachment. I think it's -- invading an ally, to me, is a high crime and misdemeanor.
And we have a treaty. We have a -- the -- the NATO agreement with -- and it's -- so it would be, basically, severing this whole agreement and invading an ally, a democracy. It's immoral. It's wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: I guess he's just saying it on the way out. ROCHA: I just want to say something quick before folks give commentary
on this, so everybody at home understands who Don Bacon is. There's only three congressional races in America that a Republican currently occupies that Kamala Harris won. And this guy is in one of them, and he's retiring.
CORNISH: Yes. Yes. OK. Group chat, stay with me. We've got a lot more to talk about on this and other topics.
This morning on CNN, why does the president actually want Greenland? We're going to talk about whether this is a fight for rare earth minerals or something more.
Plus, the American Academy of Pediatrics is actually suing over the changes to childhood vaccine recommendations.
And here we are, 365 days into President Trump's second term. Has he fulfilled his promises? And how do his voters feel about it?
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't agree with that in any way, shape, or form.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not what you voted for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[06:12:29]
CORNISH: Rare earth minerals. National security. All of the above. None of the above. Whatever the motivation, President Trump's push to take over Greenland is rattling Europe and some of his supporters.
The president is now questioning whether Denmark even has a claim to the island nation.
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TRUMP: I don't think they're going to push back too much. Look, we have to have it. They have to have this done. They can't protect it.
Denmark, they're wonderful people. And I know the leaders. They're very good people. But they -- they don't even go there.
And, you know, because the boat went there 500 years ago and then left, that doesn't give you title to property. So, we'll be talking about it with the various people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. Trump is insisting on total control of Greenland, saying that it's needed for national security to thwart off aggression from Russia or China.
And rare earth minerals may also be a motivator. Greenland is rich with them, but mining them, that's a little bit more of a challenge.
So, joining me now to discuss is Nicholas Niarchos. He's the author of a new book: "The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth."
Nicholas, thanks so much for being here.
NICHOLAS NIARCHOS, AUTHOR: Thank you. Good morning, Audie. Thank you so much for having me on.
CORNISH: So much of U.S. foreign policy, whether it's a conversation in the Congo or even the war in Ukraine, there's always a clause somewhere about access to minerals. Is that something you've noticed? And how has the U.S. been approaching it?
NIARCHOS: So, in the last 20 years, what I would call the battery wars, or the rare earth metal wars, have been heating up.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, China and the U.S. are duking it out for access to critical metals, right? In Ukraine, there was also a deal for critical metals. And Greenland is the latest in these -- these conflicts.
CORNISH: But can people actually get to those minerals? I mean, it's one thing to do it in African nations where there's a long history of both mining and exploitation. Greenland feels like a different story.
NIARCHOS: So, Greenland obviously has incredible physical barriers, but the reward is massive. It's 1.5 million tons of proven rare earths with a 36 million tons of future exploration.
But the problem is it's undeveloped. It's trapped between formidable physical barriers.
And the Greenlanders, as well, have blocked a lot of development. This is because of uranium in the -- in the reserves.
[06:15:06]
And also has, you know -- it is, of course, a geopolitical controversy at this point, because Donald Trump has said that Greenland doesn't belong to the Greenlanders just because somebody's boat arrived, you know, a couple of hundred years ago there.
So, that's -- I think that there's this sort of dual impasse. But funnily enough, you see that all over the world.
So, you know, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is this long history of exploitation, which I document in the book, has a -- you know, has also these great physical barriers and so on.
And U.S. companies that are developing the reserves that Trump is trying to access there -- for example, cobalt in Manono -- are also having to contend with, you know, building billion-dollar roads and things like this.
So, there is the -- you know, where -- I guess where there is a will, there is a way. But they're very difficult to extract. That is for sure.
CORNISH: What lessons can we take away from how far ahead China is in this process? Because I think a lot of Americans are hearing about Greenland and hearing about, in general, this interest in minerals.
But you've just implied something there. Billions of dollars in infrastructure, right, that has to be poured into getting access to it.
NIARCHOS: I mean, China has been developing this business for years. For the last, in some cases, 50 years, especially with rare earth metals.
But they have put in the work, the -- the investment, if you look at the cobalt infrastructure around the world, you know. Trump suddenly saying, We're going to take the critical cobalt infrastructure and move it to the U.S.
I mean, the resources have put in -- been put into the ground by the -- by the Chinese. They've built their factories.
The question is, will the U.S. do the same? And is the U.S. model equipped to do the same? Can Trump go, like Xi Jinping does, on a regular basis to -- to American companies and say, Are you going to -- will you invest these huge sums of money into something that we don't know will be profitable for ten years, 15 years, 20 years?
And so that's the real difference between the U.S. and the Chinese system, because U.S. companies don't know whether it's going to be a Republican government in -- in three years or a Democratic government. And -- and the shift between -- between both political parties and industrial objectives also affects that, I would say.
CORNISH: OK. Nicolas Niarchos, thank you so much for this context. Really appreciate it. If you want to read his book, it's called "The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth." That's out now.
And after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, a judge shot in his home. The suspect, still on the run. Now, other judges are worried about their safety.
Plus --
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The champions made it when nobody's looking. Our kids have a great work ethic, great leadership. It's commitment to a worthwhile goal.
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CORNISH: The Indiana Hoosiers have done it, outlasting Miami to cap off a perfect season.
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[06:22:45]
CORNISH: All right. It's about 22 minutes past the hour. Here are five things to know to get your day going.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a knock on the door. Someone advised, "We have your dog," and then a shot came through the door.
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CORNISH: OK, so this morning in Indiana, police are searching for a suspect who shot a state court judge and his wife. It happened Sunday afternoon.
According to 911 calls, someone shot through the door, hitting the judge in the arm and his wife in the hip. The state's supreme court justice -- chief justice -- writing a letter, saying she is worried about the safety of, quote, "all of our judges" and urging them to remain vigilant when it comes to security.
Four shark attacks in 48 hours forcing officials to close beaches in Sydney, Australia.
A 12-year-old boy and a 25-year-old man in critical condition with serious leg injuries.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two guys paddling this guy into the beach, and there was just a big pool of blood in the water.
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CORNISH: An 11-year-old boy had a lucky escape on Monday after a shark took a six-inch bite out of his surfboard.
This all happened just north of Sydney.
And more than 100 vehicles caught in a massive pileup in Michigan. This drone video shows the sheer scope of the wreckage on Interstate 196. This is just Southwest of Grand Rapids.
Now, more than 30 of the vehicles involved in the crash were semi- trailer trucks. There were several injuries reported, but no fatalities.
The interstate had to be closed in both directions but has now reopened.
And the NFL head coaching shakeup has taken another victim. The Buffalo Bills abruptly firing Sean McDermott after a crushing overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.
McDermott spent nine seasons with the team. He became the 10th head coach to lose or leave his job since the end of this regular season.
And the Beckhams airing their dirty laundry. Brooklyn Beckham is breaking his silence on the rumored rift with his parents, David and Victoria.
In a long social media post, he wrote that they tried to sabotage his relationship with his now wife Nicola, and that his mom even hijacked their first dance at the wedding, writing, quote, "My mum was waiting to dance with me. She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I've never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life."
[06:25:16]
And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, for the first time, the U.S. House speaker addresses the U.K. Parliament. Mike Johnson's message.
Plus, this.
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TRUMP: And I don't think any president has had a better first year than we've had in terms of success.
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CORNISH: If you can believe it, it's just been one year for Trump 2.0. We know what the president thinks, but how do the voters feel?
In the meantime, good morning, Miami. A look at Hard Rock Stadium, the home of last night's college championship game. Again, congrats to the Hoosiers.
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