‘We should be speaking to psychotherapists about what’s going on with Donald Trump’
Donald Trump has declared his focus is no longer on peace, but what he wants for America, in an angry, rambling letter about not winning a Nobel Peace Prize. Keir Starmer’s calling for ‘calm discussion’, but is that an option any more?
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In brief…
- Donald Trump has written an angry letter to the Prime Minister of Norway, saying he will invade Greenland because he didn’t win a Nobel Prize, while imposing tariffs on countries which oppose his expansionist goals.
- The News Agents say it may now be pointless speaking to politicians and professionals about how Trump works, and mental health specialists may be a better option.
- Trump’s comments have, however, united British political leaders across the spectrum in opposing his Greenland goals, but could sow “chaos” across EU countries and allies.
What’s the story?
Keir Starmer says "calm discussion" is what's needed to settle Donald Trump's relentless quest to take over Greenland.
But "calm discussion" doesn't seem to be on the US president's mind at the moment – if it ever has been.
In a new message sent to the Prime Minister of Norway, Donald Trump says he is, in part, seeking to forcefully acquire the country because he wasn't given the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace," Trump wrote.
"But can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."
He adds that Denmark has no rights to its ownership of the country, which dates back to 1721, other than the fact "a boat landed there hundreds of years ago".
“The letter is the kind of thing batshit commentators might have invented, except it's actually his own words,” says Emily Maitlis.
‘This isn’t about Greenland – it’s about ego and overreach’
Emily says she’s so taken aback by his words, that she’s reconsidering how journalists should even be covering Trump going forward.
“Why are we running around talking to former diplomats? Why are we running around talking to former Foreign Office mandarins? We should be talking to psychotherapists,” she says.
“We should be analysing what is going on here.”
She adds that despite the “batshit” letter, there is some clarity to be found in Trump’s words.
“It seems to me very clear that this isn't really about Greenland,” Emily says.
“It's not really about security.
“It's about overreach and ego and narcissism – and if Greenland just goes, then where's next?”
She adds that Canada should be feeling very “nervous” right now.
Trump’s aggression causing ‘total unanimity’ in UK politics
In a speech today (Monday 19 January) Keir Starmer said that Trump's takeover of Greenland is in "no-one's interest", and in an unlikely turn of events his stance is supported by all UK political parties, including Reform UK and the Conservatives.
“It's worth just thinking how rare it is that we get total unanimity in British politics, but the threat to Greenland has done that,” says Jon.
Kemi Badenoch has said she urges Trump to "stick to the principles in his own strategy and withdraw the threat of tariffs, for the good of US & European security."
Nigel Farage has said "to use economic threats against the country that's been considered to be your closest ally for over 100 years is not the kind of thing we would expect. It's wrong, it's bad. It would be very, very hurtful to us."
Trump ‘creating chaos’ in EU states
With Trump attempting to impose new tariffs on some, but not all, EU states and the UK, Emily says his goal is to divide and conquer, and cause more unrest among members of NATO.
"The EU works at a snail's pace," she says.
"The EU has to have meetings and memoranda and more meetings and sign offs and extra meetings.
"By dividing the countries of the EU on this one, he's actually sort of created even more chaos inside that body."
Among all that and a growing sense of protectionism in America and other leading countries, Jon adds, Britain is looking increasingly "isolated".
"That is why Keir Starmer has to tread so bloody carefully right now," he says.
"Because we don't have a big stick to wave around."