Fact-Checking Donald Trump's Controversial Claims at Davos
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, America's contribution to NATO, and wind energy in China. His address—lasting over an hour—contained numerous false assertions which fact-checkers have been scrutinizing.
Did the US 'give Greenland back' after World War Two?
For weeks, Trump has vocalized his interest in acquiring Greenland, claiming it is pivotal to US national security. He stated at Davos that after World War Two, we gave Greenland back to Denmark, adding: How stupid were we to do that? However, it was not the U.S.'s to return, as an international court determined that Greenland belonged to Denmark back in 1933. During the Second World War, the U.S. did sign an agreement to defend Greenland, but this did not confer sovereignty upon the U.S.
Is the US paying for 'virtually 100%' of NATO's defence?
Trump criticized NATO, claiming the United States pays for virtually 100% of its defense, a statement not supported by data. U.S. defense spending accounted for around 70% of total NATO expenses recently, with a gradual decrease anticipated. While he indicates that NATO countries haven’t met their spending commitments, they have made strides towards achieving the 2% GDP target.
Has the US got nothing back from NATO?
Trump also claimed the US has never gotten anything from NATO. In reality, NATO's fundamental principle—collective defense—implies that an armed attack against one member is regarded as an attack against all. The U.S. invoked this collective defense clause following the 9/11 attacks, receiving significant support from other nations in subsequent military actions.
Does China have no wind farms?
Trump criticized wind energy, naming it a part of a new green scam, and claimed he couldn't find any wind farms in China. This assertion blatantly disregards the reality that China has some of the largest wind farms globally, including one in Gansu that can be seen from space, generating more wind energy than any other country in 2024.
Does the UK take 92% of North Sea oil revenue?
On the matter of North Sea oil, Trump accused the UK of taking 92% of revenues from oil companies. The facts reveal that North Sea oil and gas firms pay a corporation tax of only 30%, with a supplementary rate of 10%, leading to a total of 78%—not the exaggerated 92%. Additionally, this applies to profits, not total revenues.
Has Trump secured $18trn worth of investments for the US?
In his speech, Trump stated that the U.S. secured $18 trillion in commitments for investments. But this figure lacks credible external validation and significantly exceeds the White House’s own tracking of investments, which is around $9.6 trillion. This discrepancy underscores the importance of accuracy in claims regarding economic impact.
The ballpark figures Trump mentioned regarding GDP investments highlight potential misrepresentation or confusion related to actual commitments made by foreign investors.
