Trump Defends Military Plans, Tariffs, and Greenland Annexation in NBC Interview

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, President Donald Trump stated that he will not dismiss any officials involved in a Signal group chat discussing military strategies. The president also expressed indifference toward potential price hikes from automakers due to new tariffs announced earlier this week.

During the more than 10-minute conversation, Trump reiterated his commitment to annex Greenland, insisting that a military option remains viable if needed. His comments come amidst increasing scrutiny regarding his administration’s policies affecting both foreign relations and economic stability.

Addressing concerns about market volatility and dwindling consumer confidence associated with his new tariffs, Trump pointed to public polling indicating that “the right track” sentiment among Americans has not been witnessed for nearly four decades. “What I see is right track, wrong track. And the right track was the first time in like 40 years where it was right track,” Trump stated, emphasizing his belief in the overall positivity of his agenda.

Following his tariff announcement on Wednesday, which imposes a 25% tax on foreign-made automobiles, Trump dismissed worries that automakers would raise prices in response. “The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you’re going to make a lot of money. If you don’t, you’re going to have to probably come to the United States,” he declared.

Trump specifically stated he has no objection to automakers raising prices, affirming this with his repeated assertion: “I couldn’t care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they’re going to buy American cars.” His comments aimed to reinforce his administration’s focus on domestic manufacturing, a cornerstone of his economic policy.

In response to inquiries about the Signal group chat—where national security adviser Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed military strikes—Trump reiterated his belief that the reports around the chat are “fake news.” He suggested that concerns over the information leaked from the chat are politically motivated attacks. “I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” he said.

Trump’s remarks about Greenland were equally bold. “We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” he affirmed, while mentioning that the acquisition could potentially occur without military force. However, he indicated that all options remain open, stating, “I don’t take anything off the table.” This follows a recent visit by U.S. officials, who criticized Denmark for its handling of Greenland.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has firmly rejected Trump’s aspirations, arguing on social media that the territory “doesn’t belong to anyone else.” The Prime Minister stated, “We decide our own future,” and called for peaceful and dignified responses to assert Greenland’s autonomy.

On international relations, Trump brushed off concerns regarding how acquiring Greenland might affect U.S. relations with Russia and China. He stated, “I don’t really care. Greenland’s a very separate subject, very different.” Highlighting security concerns, he added, “You have ships sailing outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places,” reiterating his commitment to safeguarding U.S. interests.

The interview concluded with Trump’s insistence that he remains undeterred by the controversies surrounding his administration, claiming, “It’s been the greatest 100-day presidency in the history of our country.”