In a free-wheeling speech to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump made a series of contested claims. Trump touched on his desire to obtain Greenland from Denmark - which he referred to as a small ask, America's contribution to Nato, and wind energy in China. His address - which lasted for more than an hour - contained a number of false assertions which BBC Verify has been looking at.
### Did the US 'give Greenland back' after World War Two?
For weeks, Trump has spoken about his desire to acquire Greenland, a largely self-governing territory of Denmark. He has said it is critical to US national security. At Davos, he said that after World War Two we gave Greenland back to Denmark, adding: How stupid were we to do that? But it was not America's to give back. In 1933 an international court ruled that Greenland belonged to Denmark. In 1941, the US and Danish representatives signed an agreement allowing the US to defend Greenland to prevent the Nazis from taking it over. However, the agreement did not involve a transfer of sovereignty, meaning Greenland never became US territory.
### Is the US paying for 'virtually 100%' of NATO's defence?
The US president criticized NATO and claimed that the United States was paying for virtually 100% of NATO. Neither of these claims are correct. In recent years US spending on defense accounted for about 70% of the total spent by NATO countries, gradually decreasing as all NATO members were set to have spent at least 2% of their GDP on defense for the first time.
### Has the US got nothing back from NATO?
Trump claimed that the US had never gotten anything from NATO. However, Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty states that an armed attack against one member is an attack against all.
### Does China have no wind farms?
Trump asserted that he could not find any wind farms in China, despite it hosting one of the largest wind farms in the world at Gansu. China generates more wind energy than any other country, producing 997 terawatt-hours from wind in 2024, more than double that of the US.
### Does the UK take 92% of North Sea oil revenue?
Trump referred to North Sea oil, claiming the UK takes 92% of the revenues. In reality, oil and gas firms are taxed at 78%, which is on profits, not revenue.
### Has Trump secured $18tn worth of investments for the US?
Trump spoke about securing record-breaking commitments for $18 trillion, a figure lacking public evidence as current governmental records only cite $9.6 trillion.
From assertions about Greenland to NATO funding and China's energy landscape, it’s vital to sift through the facts. This has been a brief look into the reality behind President Trump’s claims at Davos.
### Did the US 'give Greenland back' after World War Two?
For weeks, Trump has spoken about his desire to acquire Greenland, a largely self-governing territory of Denmark. He has said it is critical to US national security. At Davos, he said that after World War Two we gave Greenland back to Denmark, adding: How stupid were we to do that? But it was not America's to give back. In 1933 an international court ruled that Greenland belonged to Denmark. In 1941, the US and Danish representatives signed an agreement allowing the US to defend Greenland to prevent the Nazis from taking it over. However, the agreement did not involve a transfer of sovereignty, meaning Greenland never became US territory.
### Is the US paying for 'virtually 100%' of NATO's defence?
The US president criticized NATO and claimed that the United States was paying for virtually 100% of NATO. Neither of these claims are correct. In recent years US spending on defense accounted for about 70% of the total spent by NATO countries, gradually decreasing as all NATO members were set to have spent at least 2% of their GDP on defense for the first time.
### Has the US got nothing back from NATO?
Trump claimed that the US had never gotten anything from NATO. However, Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty states that an armed attack against one member is an attack against all.
### Does China have no wind farms?
Trump asserted that he could not find any wind farms in China, despite it hosting one of the largest wind farms in the world at Gansu. China generates more wind energy than any other country, producing 997 terawatt-hours from wind in 2024, more than double that of the US.
### Does the UK take 92% of North Sea oil revenue?
Trump referred to North Sea oil, claiming the UK takes 92% of the revenues. In reality, oil and gas firms are taxed at 78%, which is on profits, not revenue.
### Has Trump secured $18tn worth of investments for the US?
Trump spoke about securing record-breaking commitments for $18 trillion, a figure lacking public evidence as current governmental records only cite $9.6 trillion.
From assertions about Greenland to NATO funding and China's energy landscape, it’s vital to sift through the facts. This has been a brief look into the reality behind President Trump’s claims at Davos.
