U.S. Treasury Secretary Claims Trump’s Greenland Deal Will Benefit America More Than Previous Agreements

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday that a potential Greenland agreement between President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte would extend beyond longstanding arrangements to provide significantly greater benefits for the United States.

“I promise you, the deal is not what we had before. It is much more fulsome for the United States,” Bessent told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

Trump announced a framework for such an agreement following his meeting with Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday.

Bessent also addressed Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs on Canada if it advances with a trade deal involving Chinese electric vehicles. This month, reports indicate that Canada negotiated lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for reduced import taxes on Canadian agricultural products under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“We can’t let Canada become an opening that the Chinese pour their cheap goods into the U.S.,” Bessent said, noting that the USMCA is expected to be renegotiated this summer. He criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for allegedly prioritizing “virtue-signaling” at Davos over the needs of Canadian citizens.

When pressed on friction with NATO allies regarding Trump’s criticism of NATO contributions in Afghanistan, Karl asked whether Bessent understood why European partners might be insulted by such remarks.

Bessent responded that Trump is focused on building “the strongest NATO possible,” emphasizing U.S. sacrifices compared to European countries while working toward a resolution in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bessent cited U.S. tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, noting that Europeans recently signed a trade deal with India and that refined products derived from Russian oil are now sold to Europe.

Karl also asked about the death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man who was shot by federal law enforcement on Saturday.

Bessent called it “a tragedy when anyone dies,” but blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for escalating tensions. He claimed that Walz declined to provide him with a state police security detail during a recent visit and suggested paid agitators were inflaming unrest. Bessent further asserted that Pretti had brought a 9mm semiautomatic weapon and ammunition to what was intended as a peaceful protest.

Walz has stated that Minnesota is investigating fraud and continues efforts to combat it, calling the situation “a fight against the fraudsters” while criticizing political gamesmanship that complicates such efforts.