The DSR Network The Daily Blast: Trump Tirades on Greenland Get So Dark that It Unnerves Medical Expert
Jan 21, 2026
Elizabeth Saunders, a political scientist and expert in international relations, dives into the alarming implications of President Trump's recent bizarre remarks about Greenland. She discusses how these comments reflect his disdain for multilateral alliances and how they are perceived by global leaders. Saunders highlights the concerning lack of checks on Trump's behavior and his team’s complicity. She raises the specter of 'primitive anarchy' emerging from such rhetoric, questioning the very norms of territorial integrity in international relations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rhetoric That Undermines Territorial Norms
- Donald Trump framed Norway's denial of a Nobel as justification to reconsider peaceful norms around Greenland.
- Elizabeth Saunders says this rhetoric signals a shocking disregard for post-1945 territorial norms.
Trump's Nobel Complaint Example
- Greg Sargent played Trump's remarks where he credits Maria Corina Machado and complains about Norway's role in the Nobel.
- The clip illustrates Trump's fixation on personal grievances shaping foreign policy talk.
Why Annexation Is Strategically Counterproductive
- Greenland offers little strategic benefit compared with keeping Denmark as an aligned partner.
- Saunders argues acting through Denmark is cheaper and more effective than any U.S. takeover.
