Trump adviser calls for talks on Greenland as tariff pressure looms

US President Donald Trump remains prepared to pursue a deal on Greenland, with his economic adviser saying the current moment is “really a good time” to begin negotiations.

The remarks were made by Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council and a senior economic adviser to President Trump, during an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Briefing programme.

“Right now it is really a good time for cooler heads to prevail and for us to disregard the rhetoric and get to the table and see if there can’t be a deal that was worked out that’s best for everybody,” Hassett said.

Hassett also noted that he had not been briefed on the legal basis for potential US tariffs against European countries. However, he suggested that such measures could serve as leverage to encourage negotiations.

The comments follow President Trump’s statement on January 5, 2026, that the United States intends to gain control over Greenland, citing national security concerns. The proposal was rejected by both Greenland and Denmark, prompting NATO to launch a joint intelligence mission on the island and deploy military personnel.

In response, Trump announced plans to impose 10 per cent tariffs from February 1 on Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, Germany and Sweden—countries that have sent forces to Greenland. The tariffs are expected to rise to 25 per cent from June 1 and remain in effect until an agreement on the purchase of the island is reached.

By Vugar Khalilov