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Greenlanders React to Dispute Over Territory; Indiana Wins College Football National Title; DOJ to Subpoena Minnesota Attorney General?; Tension in Switzerland. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired January 20, 2026 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:30:00]

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[11:30:27]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Happening now: world leaders gathering in Switzerland and saying they're taking President Trump's desire to seize Greenland very seriously.

Here's what the head of the European Union said about the president's tariff threats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And listen to the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, just a few moments ago. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: On Arctic sovereignty, we stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland's future. Canada strongly opposes tariffs over Greenland and calls for focused talks to achieve our shared objectives of security and prosperity in the Arctic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And in the midst of all this back-and-forth, President Trump posted an exchange he had with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, where Macron said in part -- and I'm quoting him now -- "I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland" -- end quote.

CNN senior international correspondent Melissa Bell is joining us now from Paris.

Melissa, we're also hearing more from Macron in Davos, Switzerland, right now. What else is he saying?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, there's been a definite change of tone from not just European leaders, everybody we just heard, of course, from the Canadian prime minister.

Something has shifted, and it's because of this question of sovereignty that President Trump seems determined to cross the line on when it comes to Greenland. He, of course, is heading towards Switzerland on Wednesday.

In the meantime, you heard those leaders line up very forcefully to stake out this new position of pushing back on the American position with a great deal more force. Remember, just before we have a listen to President Macron, what he had to say, that the day also began between a fairly testy exchange between the French president and President Trump over the refusal by the French president to join the peace council on Gaza.

That led President Trump to threaten the French with 200 percent tariffs on wine and champagne. That is the context in which President Macron rose to say this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: What doesn't make sense is to have tariffs between allies. We have to fix prosperity in democracies. I mean, it doesn't make sense to have tariffs and be divided, and even to threaten now with additional tariffs.

We can use the -- I mean, the crazy things is that we can be put in a situation to use the anti-coercion mechanism for the very first time vis-a-vis the U.S. if they put additional tariffs. Can you imagine that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: That anti-coercion tool that the French president mentions is going to be discussed here in Europe on Thursday, when European leaders meet, Wolf, in this extraordinary council to consider this deteriorating transatlantic relationship.

But even before that tool, which essentially would allow Europeans to block many American firms, including big tech, from European markets -- it's been described as the bazooka option -- there's a bunch of other things they can do, including freezing the trade deal that was signed last time.

There was the first round of tariff threats from President Trump. The United States and Europe signed this trade deal. Just now, within the last hour, the European Parliament has stopped its ratification of that treaty. The next step will be for Europe to consider whether it uses the for-now-suspended countertariffs that had been planned last summer, all 93 billion euros worth of them.

They were suspended until February. The threat now from Europe is that they may allow them to go ahead. There is a definite ramping up on the part of the European Union and standing firm over this question of Greenland. Simply, it is a line they suggest that they will not allow the American president to cross.

BLITZER: All right, Melissa Bell in Paris for

us. Melissa, thank you very, very much.

Just ahead: Danish soldiers now arriving in Greenland to help bolster security, as the people who live there are preparing to defend their sovereignty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A couple of days ago, we talked about buying a rifle for protection.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. For defense?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

ROBERTSON: Wow. That's serious.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is serious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[11:39:17]

BLITZER: We're back with a view from inside Greenland right now, caught in the middle of a truly extraordinary dispute between the U.S. and its European NATO allies over President Trump's plan to take over the Danish territory.

As people in Greenland protest big time, the president is playing hardball right now, saying last night there is -- quote -- "no going back" and that we have to have it, his words. He even posted an A.I.- generated image of himself planting an American flag in Greenland.

CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is on the ground for us in Nuuk, Greenland.

[11:40:00]

Nick, the Danish government is now getting more and more involved in all of this. What are officials doing there?

ROBERTSON: Yes, we have had and seen more and more Danish military show up over the last few days, significant numbers coming into here, Nuuk, and to another base north of here.

In fact, just half-an-hour ago, one of the frigates that's permanently based here, one of the Danish warships, Arctic warships that was based here permanently went off to be part of that Arctic training exercise. They're always moving around here, and that's what the Danes are saying. They're protecting the waters around Greenland from any threats whatsoever.

But what have the Danes done as well? They have just, at the request of the Greenland government, sent sort of emergency responders, the people, the civil defense-type people who help with floods, help with earthquakes, that sort of thing. They have been sent here with equipment, advisers coming, at the request of the Greenland government.

And they are -- their job is going to be to secure communications points, secure critical infrastructure, install early warning systems, provide crisis management. The prime minister here today has said that the country needs to be prepared and ready for the possibility that there could be a military move by the United States.

He doesn't expect it, but he wants a country to be ready for it. But what we're finding here is that people are beginning to get this feeling that it's becoming real, but it's also happening beyond their control.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHEERING)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Greenland's prime minister and his people are walking a tightrope at anti-U.S. protests over the weekend in the capital, Nuuk, the biggest yet, trying not to inflame already overheated international tensions, the prime minister not mentioning President Donald Trump by name, saying: "We're all standing here together today to show that we're united and we're not accepting what's happening to us."

Many here feeling like bystanders to their own destiny.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, I think, as a generation, we're kind of scared for the future, because it feels like we don't have enough power to make our own decisions fully.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's scary to think about it and it's scary at night to try to sleep. And it's the talk of the day every day.

A couple of days ago, we talked about buying a rifle for protection.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Yes. For defense?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

ROBERTSON: Wow. That's serious.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is serious.

ROBERTSON: Gun store owners we have spoken with say they're not seeing a spike in sales, but purchases of camping stoves, gasoline, freeze-dried food is going up, driven, they say, by the crazy language President Trump is using and concerns that events here really are out of their control.

(voice-over): Now Denmark's move to have NATO allies train for Arctic security has further angered President Trump, who is threatening tariffs on the contributing countries.

(on camera): Compared to other NATO partners, how tough are the conditions up here?

SOREN ANDERSEN, CHIEF, DANISH JOINT ARCTIC COMMAND: It is very, very tough. And that's also why we have to train up here.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): The Danish commander in charge tiptoes around the politics of it all.

(on camera): As a NATO commander, are you personally surprised that a NATO partner could be threatening another NATO partner?

ANDERSEN: Look, I'm not going into politics, but I work perfectly together with the U.S. military. We have done that for decades in Bosnia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and we do it also today.

ROBERTSON: As a Dane who suffered a lot of losses in Afghanistan, as many per capita as the United States, is it disappointing to you that we're in this position?

ANDERSEN: Frankly, it is.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Yet, even while marginalized, no one here is giving up hope yet.

(on camera): You think this is going to be resolved diplomatically?

SVEND HARDENBERG, GREENLANDIC BUSINESSMAN: I think so. Well, all of us are hoping that that will be solved. And the dialogue has started. And I'm -- I assume that that will go in a very positive direction for everybody.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Greenland-born exec Svend Hardenberg is running point for his mining company to get a minerals and rare earths project mired in local politics into production and turning a profit for Greenlanders.

HARDENBERG: We will be paying the Greenland government just on royalties equivalent to U.S. dollars $5.5 billion in that period of time, and then you have job creation, infrastructure investments.

ROBERTSON: He is bullish about Greenland's potential, sees benefit in Trump's business-first style, but even he is staying out of the red- hot diplomacy.

[11:45:02]

(on camera): Would the United States help with that development? HARDENBERG: I don't know.

ROBERTSON: If the United States had control in Greenland?

HARDENBERG: Well, that scenario, some would speculate on. I would not speculate on that.

ROBERTSON: You don't think it's even a remote possibility that the United States is going to control Greenland at some point?

HARDENBERG: I don't think so.

ROBERTSON: Why not?

HARDENBERG: It's -- when I'm looking at how everything is transpiring, I don't see that as an option.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): In a land of uncertainty, Greenlanders are embracing what they can control, themselves, letting go of tensions on skis and skates, or escaping the geopolitical strains with music and comedy.

Hard reality, no one here is laughing for long, still hoping Trump runs out of bluster.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: But that hope has a lot of attention right now focused on Davos, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Nic Robertson, quick question before I let you go.

The dispute is a big topic for leaders right now at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Are people there, where you are, paying attention to what's happening in Davos?

ROBERTSON: A hundred percent. They're happy to hear the unity. I think they're going to be perturbed, as everyone else is, to hear some of the hard realities about emerging, changing relationships, global relationships. They feel at the crux of that sort of geopolitical struggle at the moment.

But they are looking, most importantly, to what President Trump has to say when he gives his speech on Wednesday. I think that's the moment when they're going to hope that perhaps there's an off-ramp in these current tensions.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson, reporting from Greenland, thanks so much for joining us. Excellent work.

We will be right back.

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[11:51:06] BLITZER: We're following more breaking news just coming into THE SITUATION ROOM.

CNN is now learning that the U.S. Justice Department plans to subpoena Minnesota's Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Let's go to CNN's Crime and Justice correspondent, Katelyn Polantz.

What are you hearing, Katelyn?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: One of several expected subpoenas to state and local officials in the state of Minnesota, as tensions continue to increase between the federal government and the leadership of that state and in Minneapolis.

This is confirmation that Hannah Rabinowitz, our producer at the Justice Department, and I have been able to get today that there is an expected subpoena going to the attorney general of the state of Minnesota.

That would be Democrat Keith Ellison, and he would be receiving that subpoena in a criminal investigation from the Justice Department, the same sort of thing where the Justice Department is also beginning to investigate the governor, Tim Walz, as well as the Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frey, all for potentially obstructing federal officials in the state.

Now, Ellison, Walz, Frey, they have all come out and said that this is all political in nature, and this is quite a significant step for the Justice Department to do something like this. I reached out to Ellison's office and have not heard back, but I have also understanding that there are not subpoenas yet that are landing with these officials.

They are expected at this time, but it would be in a criminal investigation. Here's a little bit more on where Ellison stands about the ongoing situation in Minneapolis, protest activity there, and also his views on the Trump administration's approach to the state at this moment. He was just on with our own Erin Burnett last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, we live in the age when people like Jerome Powell are under investigation, Tish James, James Comey, Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin. The list goes on and on. Under this DOJ, wrongdoing has nothing to do with whether they're going to focus or investigate you.

So I wish -- in a normal time, I would say no. I would say this is First Amendment activity. In time like this, it's just really difficult to say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POLANTZ: Now, this is a very ongoing situation that is very likely to develop, but, Wolf, we'll stay tuned to see what else may happen between the federal government and the state in Minneapolis right now.

BLITZER: A significant development. We'll see what happens.

All right, Katelyn Polantz, thank you very, very much.

And we'll be right back.

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[11:58:05]

BLITZER: College football has crowned a new champion, the Indiana Hoosiers defeating the Miami Hurricanes to win the title for the first time in program history, a storybook ending to a perfect 16-0 season.

Coy Wire is on the scene for us in Miami.

You were at the game, Coy. The Hoosiers really fought for that win.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Incredible win.

The game started off a bit slow, but then it brought the boom like Wolf Blitzer running up an A gap blitz back in his playing days. This was the championship that no one saw coming, Wolf, two teams overcoming all sorts of odds to get there, Miami playing their first title in 24 years on their home field, Indiana and the Heisman-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, seeking a first title.

And Fernando had his moment, Wolf, fourth down, HeisMendoza sheer will in the city he grew up, putting his team up 10 in the fourth. Mama Mendoza was on cloud nine. The Hurricanes, though, not going down without a flight, superstar Malachi Toney willing his way into the zone to bring Miami within three.

And after an Indiana field goal, Miami would have a chance to go for the win, but it is intercepted by Jamari Sharpe and the Hoosiers. Pull off the unthinkable. The team that had more losses than any team in college football history before coach Curt Cignetti arrived, they climb to the top of the mountain, Wolf, perfect undefeated season complete.

I caught up with coach and some of his stars after the win.

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CURT CIGNETTI, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: A champion is made when nobody's looking. Our kids have a great work ethic, great leadership. It's commitment to a worthwhile goal and just try to improve daily. And anything's possible when you prepare the right way and have the right people on your staff and in the locker room.

JAMARI SHARPE, INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL PLAYER: All year, we've been battling, having games like. This fight -- we just watch it end all year.

FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA HOOSIERS QUARTERBACK: I'm stuttering right now, because I can't even use words. They're my brothers for life, and it's been the most special brotherhood. It's -- I'm so emotional about it, I can't even process it.

[12:00:00]

Usually, I would burst out in tears, but it's -- I mean, they're my brothers for life, and it's just a special group of guys, and no one I would rather do it with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: And 27-21 is the final, Wolf, and, for the first time ever, the Indiana Hoosiers college football national champs, and the scenes back in Bloomington showing exactly, Wolf, how much it means to Hoosier Nation.

BLITZER: I'm very happy for the Hoosiers.

Coy Wire, thank you very, very much.

And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining me this morning.

"INSIDE POLITICS" with our friend and colleague Dana Bash is coming up next.