Jesse Watters mocks Europe’s resistance to Trump’s Greenland push: ‘Give daddy what he wants’
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fox News host Jesse Watters ridiculed European leaders for rejecting President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, sarcastically questioning why US allies would not simply comply with what he framed as Trump’s wishes.
During a segment this week, Watters referenced a remark made last year by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who jokingly referred to Trump as “daddy,” using it as a springboard to criticize Europe’s refusal to consider transferring the Danish territory.
“NATO called Trump ‘daddy,’” Watters said on air. “Why won’t they give daddy what he wants?”
Jesse Watters: “NATO called Trump ‘daddy’. Why won’t they give daddy what he wants?”
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 15, 2026
Jessica Tarlov: “Because sometimes daddy needs to be told no. That’s just the facts on the table.”
Jesse Watters: “By who?”
Jessica Tarlov: “By anyone who has the guts to do it, and it seems… pic.twitter.com/lwvx55VIXy
Jessica Tarlov counters Jesse Watters
The comment immediately drew pushback from co-host Jessica Tarlov, who argued that European leaders were right to reject the idea.
“Because sometimes daddy needs to be told no,” Tarlov said. “That’s just the facts on the table.”
Watters pressed her on who exactly should be doing the refusing.
Tarlov responded by pointing to Danish officials and Greenland’s leadership, saying they had taken a firm stance against any attempt to seize the territory.
“They’re saying NATO will disband if this happens,” she said, adding that such a move would amount to an attack on a NATO country.
Watters reacted sharply, interrupting to ask, “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on the side of America and also Greenland,” Tarlov replied, accusing Trump supporters of showing disregard for the sovereignty of an allied nation.
She argued that Denmark and Greenland had been open to diplomatic discussions on cooperation without surrendering territory.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland is key for US security.
.@POTUS: "Greenland's very important for national security, including of Denmark, and the problem is, there's not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland — but there's everything we can do." pic.twitter.com/tEd0qVJ4p3
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 14, 2026
Jesse Watters mocks Europe's response
As Tarlov described a growing European response to the Greenland issue, including coordination among multiple countries, Watters openly laughed at the idea.
“You have a pan-European fleet coming to back up Greenland,” Tarlov said, referencing Germany and France.
“A European fleet!” Watters interrupted, laughing. “That’s the funniest thing you’ve said all day! What do they have, one aircraft carrier?”
Tarlov countered that dismantling NATO would benefit America’s adversaries, not its allies.
“No one would be happier if NATO was disbanded than Vladimir Putin,” she said.
Growing transatlantic tensions
The Trump administration has repeatedly suggested that Greenland could be taken by force if negotiations fail, deepening diplomatic strains between Washington and European capitals.
In response, several European countries, including Germany, France, Sweden, and Norwa,y announced that they would deploy troops to Greenland, signaling a coordinated show of support for the territory and its current governance.
Danish Foreign Minster Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaks after White House meeting: "For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are of course totally unacceptable. We therefore still have… pic.twitter.com/ry4mPKIrV6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 14, 2026
The standoff has raised concerns about the future of US-European relations, particularly within NATO as Trump allies continue to frame territorial acquisition as both strategic and inevitable.