Trump joins the White House briefing amid Greenland and NATO tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump joined a White House briefing on Tuesday, using the appearance to defend his approach to NATO and claim credit for increased defence spending by alliance members, as disputes with European partners over security and Greenland continue.

Appearing alongside White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a ‘special guest’, Trump said he had forced NATO members to significantly raise defence contributions, arguing the alliance had failed to meet spending commitments before his leadership.

‘Nobody’s done more for NATO than I have,’ Trump said. ‘Getting them to go up to five per cent of GDP was something that nobody thought was possible. They weren’t paying at two per cent. Now they’re paying.’

He said NATO countries were now purchasing large amounts of military equipment, much of it from the United States, adding that the final destination of those weapons was a decision for individual governments.

‘They’re buying a lot of things from us and they’re giving them, I guess, to Ukraine. That’s up to them,’ Trump said.

Trump suggested talks with NATO allies were ongoing and expressed confidence that an outcome acceptable to both sides could be reached.

‘I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and we’re going to be very happy,’ he said. ‘But we need it for security purposes.’

The remarks came as friction continues between Washington and European allies over Trump’s insistence that the United States should acquire Greenland, a position firmly rejected by European leaders and NATO partners.

Turning to domestic issues, Trump said his administration may be close to reaching an agreement with Harvard University, as part of broader efforts targeting U.S. universities over campus protests and institutional policies.

‘I hear we have a deal, but who the hell knows with them,’ Trump said, criticising Harvard’s leadership and accusing the university of tolerating antisemitism.

He also addressed an ongoing Supreme Court case that could have major financial consequences for the government, as the court considers the legality of tariffs imposed under emergency powers.

‘I don’t know what the Supreme Court’s gonna do,’ Trump said, warning that an adverse ruling could force Washington to repay hundreds of billions of dollars collected through tariffs. He argued the measures were lawful and essential for national security.

‘We have tremendous national security because of tariffs,’ he said.

Later in the briefing, Trump spoke positively about Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado, suggesting she could play a role in future engagement with Washington.

‘I felt so strongly against Venezuela, now I’m loving Venezuela,’ Trump said, praising cooperation with Venezuelan actors and calling Machado ‘an unbelievably nice woman’.

The comments followed Machado’s recent visit to the White House, where she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal.

• Venezuelan Machado says she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal

Turning to foreign policy, Trump claimed credit for helping to resolve the long-running conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed surprise at the outcome.

‘Putin told me, I cannot believe you settled that war,’ Trump said, adding that Russia had worked on the issue for a decade without success.

Trump described hosting the leaders of both countries at the Oval Office, saying talks that began with sharp accusations quickly shifted tone, with the meeting ending on a conciliatory note.

Trump also defended his tariff policy and said his administration was anxiously awaiting a Supreme Court decision that could have major financial implications.

Trump said it was unclear how the court would rule, warning that an adverse decision could force the government to repay large sums collected through tariffs.

‘I don’t know what the Supreme Court’s gonna do,’ he said. ‘We’ve taken in hundreds of billions of dollars, and if we lose that case, it’s possible we’re going to have to do the best we can in paying it back. I don’t know how that’s going to be done very easily without hurting a lot of people.’

He argued that tariffs were justified under U.S. law and linked them directly to national security.

‘We have tremendous national security because of tariffs,’ Trump said, adding that his administration had achieved ‘a lot of accomplishments’ over the past year.

Ahead of the briefing, Trump took to social media to argue that NATO would not exist without his leadership, saying the alliance would be in the ‘ash heap of history’ if it were not for him. The remarks came as tensions deepen across the Atlantic over Trump’s insistence that the United States should acquire Greenland. 

He also accused the United Kingdom of acting with what he called ‘great stupidity’ on national security and reiterated his view that the United States should take control of Greenland. His comments have drawn criticism across Europe and within NATO.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has become a focal point of growing transatlantic friction. Trump has argued that U.S. control of the island is necessary for national and global security, a claim firmly rejected by European leaders, who insist that Greenland’s sovereignty is not negotiable.

• Is the row over Greenland testing NATO unity and Europe’s Arctic role?
• Trump tariff threat ‘a maximalist move’ on Europe over Greenland

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the British parliament, becoming the first sitting House speaker to do so. Johnson said his visit was intended to reassure allies and ease tensions.

‘I told the president that I felt that my mission here today was to encourage our friends and help to calm the waters,’ Johnson told lawmakers in London.

The White House said the briefing would also address the administration’s record in office, but Trump was expected to face questions on Greenland, NATO and relations with European partners as the rift across the Atlantic continues to widen.

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