Donald Trump’s renewed push to “purchase” Greenland, backed by threats of sweeping tariffs against European allies, exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of power in the modern world. Bullying is not strength. It is a gamble that only works when others are too afraid to resist—and Europe has shown it is no longer willing to play along.
Trump’s tactic strips trade policy of any economic rationale. Tariffs, once justified as tools to protect workers or correct imbalances, are now wielded openly as weapons of coercion. This approach has united Europe rather than divided it. France has rejected intimidation outright, Denmark has framed Greenland firmly within Nato’s collective security, and EU leaders have warned that such threats could trigger a dangerous spiral of retaliation. Even Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, often seen as ideologically aligned with Trump, publicly called the move a mistake.
More importantly, Trump appears to have underestimated Europe’s institutions. The European parliament is moving to halt ratification of an EU-US trade deal, demonstrating that coercion against individual governments cannot override systems designed to resist pressure. Trade policy lies with Brussels, not national capitals—a lesson the US president seems unwilling to learn.
Britain, now outside the EU, has voiced concern but lacks leverage, reduced to urging restraint rather than shaping outcomes. Meanwhile, other US allies are quietly hedging their bets. Canada’s deepening trade ties with China reflect a broader trend: middle powers adapting to an increasingly erratic Washington.
Some defend Trump’s approach by invoking Nixon’s “madman theory,” but unpredictability only works when it builds leverage, not when it destroys trust. With declining domestic support at home, Trump lacks the legitimacy required to command obedience abroad. Real power comes from trust, stability, and persuasion. The more Trump relies on intimidation, the faster the world learns how to move on without him.