By JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR and IMOGEN GARFINKEL – SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER and NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT and KATRINA SCHOLLENBERGER, US HEAD OF LIVE NEWS and RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 16:03 EST, 21 January 2026

The conference center at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is being evacuated with no further information on the cause.

A reporter on the scene described an unusual smell that is ‘making some people in our area cough.’ 

Hundreds of business leaders and government officials have descended on the forum for the five day event, gathering to discuss pressing global issues. 

Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday that he would be scrapping tariffs for European allies that opposed his plans to purchase Greenland.

He claimed that he had reached a ‘framework deal’ in acquiring Greenland in a meeting with Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, at the WEF.

‘This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,’ he said.

Trump said ‘additional discussions’ were to be had regarding the Golden Dome missile defense system. 

Follow the latest updates of Donald Trump’s time in Davos 

Breaking:Evacuation reportedly underway at World Economic Forum

An evacuation appears to be underway at the Congress Center in Davos, according to online reports.

Arctic nations to discuss security on Greenland deal, NATO says

A NATO spokesperson released a statement giving some insight into the specifics of Donald Trump’s Greenland deal frame work.

‘Discussions among ⁠NATO allies on the framework the President referenced ​will focus on ​ensuring Arctic security through the collective ‍efforts of Allies, especially the seven Arctic Allies,’ the spokesperson said.

‘Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the ‌United States will go forward aimed at ​ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold – economically ‍or militarily – in Greenland.’

‘Sometimes you need a dictator,’ Trump says

Donald Trump praised his World Economic Forum speech and compared himself to a dictator.

‘I can’t believe it, we got good reviews on that speech. Usually they say, “He’s a horrible dictator type person. I’m a dictator.” But sometimes you need a dictator,’ Trump said.

‘But they didn’t say that in this case. It’s all based on common sense, it’s not conservative or liberal, or anything else.’

Danish foreign minister says US owning Greenland is a ‘red line’

Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told national broadcaster DR that he welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement on a framework deal, but said the US will own Greenland.

‘It’s not going to happen that the US will own Greenland. That’s a red line,’ he said.

Trump tore Europe to pieces in Davos… but behind the savage insults and Greenland ultimatum lay the real warning to the world

Donald Trump’s quest to acquire Greenland, the ultimate real estate deal, inched forward at a high-stakes showdown with America’s allies in Davos. And, so far, it has been a classic Trump-style negotiation.

Before his appearance at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort on Wednesday, the property baron president set out a maximalist position, suggesting he may invade the icy wasteland, meaning an attack on NATO ally Denmark, which controls Greenland.

When America accidentally dropped nukes on Greenland, sparking a mystery that won’t go away

A routine patrol mission over the Arctic turned into a nuclear accident that shook the Cold War.

Nearly 60 years ago, a US B-52G Stratofortress departed Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York on a mission to circle 35,000ft above Thule Air Base in Greenland, monitoring the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System.

With seven crew members aboard, the bomber was flying over Greenland when a fire broke out and destroyed the aircraft’s electrical systems.

The pilot declared an emergency and radioed Thule Air Base, just seven miles away. But black smoke filled the cockpit, forcing the crew to bail out and leaving the bomber to crash alone.

At 3.39pm local time on January 21, 1968, the bomber plunged into the ice, triggering the conventional explosions of four thermonuclear weapons. While the bombs’ safety systems prevented a full nuclear detonation, radioactive debris was thrown for miles across the ice. One crew member died in the crash.

Trump says Putin has joined Board of Peace

Donald Trump told CNN‘s Kaitlan Collins that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to join his Gaza Board of Peace.

‘We want everybody. We want all nations. We want all nations where people have control, people have power, that way we are never going to have a problem. This is the greatest board ever assembled,’ Trump said.

‘Yeah, I have some controversial people on it, but these are people that get the job done,’ he said of Putin. ‘So he was invited. He’s accepted.’

Stocks surge after Trump U-turns on tariff threat

Stocks roared back on Wednesday after President Donald Trump abruptly backed away from his latest tariff threat — easing fears of another self-inflicted market shock.

The rally came after Trump said he would not impose fresh tariffs on Europe, claiming a ‘framework’ deal had been reached over Greenland, days after his surprise threat sparked a brutal global sell-off.

Markets had already been climbing after Trump told delegates at the World Economic Forum that he would not use force to acquire Greenland — walking back on comments that had rattled allies and investors alike.

Trump says Greenland deal will last ‘forever’

Donald Trump said the framework of a deal on Greenland he reached with NATO’s chief is ‘a great deal for everybody.’

As he was leaving the World Economic Forum, Trump told reporters the deal is ‘really fantastic for the USA.’

‘It’s a deal that’s forever,’ he said. ‘It’s what’s called an infinite deal.’

President Donald Trump walks down stairs after a meeting during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)NATO Secretary General says Trump’s post on Greenland deal is ‘exactly to the point’

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters that Donald Trump’s Truth Social post announcing their agreement on a framework for a deal on Greenland is accurate.

‘His Truth Social post is exactly to the point, and I totally agree with that,’ Rutte said.

Rutte said his meeting with the president was ‘very good,’ and referred reporters to Trump’s post when pressed about the deal.

‘You will see everything,’ Rutte said. ‘There will be more conversations.’

Trump says Greenland deal will be ‘out pretty soon’

Donald Trump told reporters that the framework on Greenland he reached with NATO chief Mark Rutte will be made available soon.

‘The deal is going to be put out pretty soon,’ he said. ‘[It] gets us everything we needed to get.’

Oddest moments from Trump’s Davos speech

Donald Trump’s speech in Davos on Wednesday saw the US President address a wide range of topics, including his bid for Greenland, immigration in Europe, the US relationship with NATO, Venezuelan oil and inflation.

However, the address also featured a number of bizarre moments, including Trump referring to Greenland as Iceland, mocking Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses, and appearing to say wind power caused lower birth rates.

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Davos ‘evacuation’ after ‘unusual smell and coughing’ following Trump’s crunch talks with NATO and world leaders: Live updates