Speaking about the escalating protests in Iran, Trump openly raised the possibility of military action. Warning the Iranian leadership, Trump said the United States would respond forcefully if violence against protesters intensified.

He described Iran as being in serious trouble, claiming that people had taken control of certain cities—an outcome he said few believed possible just weeks ago.

Addressing Iran’s leaders directly, Trump warned, “you’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too.” He added that if the Iranian authorities began killing protesters as they had in the past, the United States would step in, saying, “We will hit them very hard where it hurts.” Trump emphasized that this would not involve boots on the ground, but would involve severe strikes by other means.

Greenland Message: “Whether They Like It or Not”

One of the most striking parts of Trump’s remarks focused on Greenland. The U.S. president underlined the island’s strategic importance and made clear that Washington was determined to take action regarding its future.

Trump said he was not currently talking about buying Greenland, but did not rule it out. Instead, he stressed that the United States would act regardless of local opposition. “I’m not talking about buying Greenland — though I might talk about that later — but right now, we are going to do something with Greenland, whether they like it or not,” he said.

Arguing that Greenland had become a strategic target for Russia and China, Trump claimed that failure to act would allow those powers to establish control. “If we don’t, Russia or China will take over Greenland,” he said, adding that the United States did not want Russia or China as a neighbor.

Asked why U.S. military presence alone was not sufficient, Trump emphasized ownership. “Because when we own it, we defend it,” he said, arguing that leases or agreements were inadequate. “You don’t defend leases the same way — you have to own it.”

Trump also challenged historical claims over Greenland, stating, “The fact that they landed a boat there 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own the land.” While saying he preferred a negotiated solution, Trump warned that alternative methods remained on the table. “If we don't do it the easy way, we are going to do it the hard way.”

Syria and Regional Remarks

Trump also addressed developments in Syria, saying the United States maintains good relations with both Kurdish groups and the Syrian government, despite their long-standing rivalry. He said Washington wants Syria to succeed but expressed concern that violence had begun to escalate again.

“The Wealth Will Go to the U.S.”

Turning to Venezuela, Trump centered his remarks on the country’s vast oil reserves. He said Venezuela currently appeared to be acting like an ally and expressed confidence that this would continue.

Trump claimed that when combined, Venezuela and the United States control 55 percent of the world’s oil. “Venezuela’s oil wealth will go to the United States,” he said, adding that some of the revenue would also go to Venezuela and oil companies.

Declaring that the United States was “open for business,” Trump said China, Russia, and other countries could buy as much oil as they wanted from the U.S., either domestically or through overseas operations. He portrayed Washington as a global energy hub under his leadership.