This is an interesting time for European nations to conduct drills in Greenland. Just a day after diplomats from Greenland and Denmark visited the White House to discuss the future of Greenland with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NATO nations began conducting military drills in Greenland. France and Germany, along with other NATO members, arrived in Greenland on Thursday to begin a series of military exercises in the region. The BBC reported more on France’s move to do military drills in Greenland: A small French military contingent has arrived in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, officials say, as several European states deploy small numbers in a so-called reconnaissance mission. The limited deployment, which also involves Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK, comes as US President Donald Trump continues to press his claim to the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark. French President Emmanuel Macron said the initial contingent would be reinforced soon with “land, air, and sea assets”. Senior diplomat Olivier Poivre d’Arvor saw the mission as sending a strong political signal: “This is a first exercise… we’ll show the US that Nato is present.” Poivre d’Arvor said the initial French deployment involved 15 people, hours after Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers travelled to Washington for a meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance on Wednesday. Following the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said while the talks were constructive, there remained a “fundamental disagreement” between the two sides and later criticised Trump’s bid to buy Greenland. Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his bid to bring Greenland under US control, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “we need Greenland for national security”. Although he did not rule out the use of force, he said late on Wednesday that he thought something could be worked out with Denmark. “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. You found that out last week with Venezuela.” Here’s French President Emmanuel Macron explaining his motive for sending the troops: French President Emmanuel Macron announced the arrival of French troops in Greenland Thursday as forces from several European countries continue to arrive on island in a show of support for Denmark (translation via AP) https://t.co/2Z9EEtFRsD pic.twitter.com/14xlamjI0A — Bloomberg (@business) January 15, 2026 CNN reported President Trump has made it clear that he has his eyes on the U.S. obtaining control of Greenland: President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “anything less” than US control of Greenland is “unacceptable,” arguing the United States needs the territory for national security purposes, which could in turn strengthen NATO. “NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote in an early morning Truth Social post. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.” The post came ahead of a meeting Vice President JD Vance hosted at the White House Wednesday with the Danish foreign minister and his Greenlandic counterpart alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. That meeting yielded few tangible results, with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen noting that he and his Greenlandic colleague had “a frank but also constructive discussion” with Rubio and Vance, but their “perspectives continue to differ.” Still, Rasmussen said the parties have agreed to form “a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward” that is expected to meet in the coming weeks.

Former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), who was nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland, apologized for joking that the island nation would become the 52nd state of the United States. “There was nothing serious about that, I was with some people, who I hadn’t met for three years, and they were kidding about Jeff Landry being governor of Greenland and they started joking about me and if anyone took offense to it, then I apologize,” Long told Arctic Today, a news outlet based in Alaska. “The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Iceland to verify the veracity of the alleged comments,” Iceland’s foreign ministry told POLITICO. Iceland is concerned about America’s growing territorial ambitions, after POLITICO reported that Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to this country Billy Long joked that North Atlantic island will be the 52nd U.S. state.https://t.co/YasZ6VMNGY — POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) January 15, 2026 Arctic Today shared: Furthermore, an official petition has been started demanding that Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir refuse to accept Long as ambassador. As of publication the petition has over 2,000 signatures. Speaking to local newspaper MBL, member of the ruling party Viðreisn Sigmar Guðmundsson said the comments should be taken seriously and that they represented a fundamental disrespect for the sovereignty of small nations, connecting them to the ongoing discussion about the future of Greenland. “There is no doubt that this is very serious for a small country like Iceland. We need to understand that all the security arguments made by the U.S. regarding Greenland, also apply to Iceland,” Guðmundsson said. Long told Arctic Today that he was not aware of the reaction in Iceland, or of the request for comment by the ministry. Long said he could understand the reaction, especially in light of the tense diplomatic situation between Greenland, Denmark and the U.S., following repeated statements by President Trump about the U.S. taking over Greenland. However, he was adamant they were a joke and should not be taken seriously. “Long has not been confirmed for the ambassadorship by the U.S. Senate,” the outlet stated. “These words of Billy Long, who Donald Trump has nominated as ambassador to Iceland, may have been said in half-hearted terms, but they are insulting to Iceland and Icelanders, who have had to fight for their freedom and have always been a friend of the United States,” the petition says, according to POLITICO. “We want Þorgerður Katrín [Gunnarsdóttir] to reject Billy Long as ambassador to Iceland and call for the United States to nominate another man, who will show Iceland and Icelanders more respect,” it continues. POLITICO noted: European leaders are backing Greenlanders — who have repeatedly said they don’t want to be Americans — and are seeking a deal to head off a potential clash that Denmark has send would end the transatlantic NATO alliance.

Tiffany Burress, the wife of former NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress, announced she will run for a U.S. House seat in New Jersey as a Republican. Plaxico Burress played 12 seasons in the NFL and caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII to lift the New York Giants over the then-undefeated New England Patriots. “Tiffany Glenn Burress, an attorney, businesswoman, and community leader who has built her career standing up to powerful interests and fighting for everyday people, announced her campaign for Congress as a Republican in New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District, challenging Democratic incumbent Nellie Pou,” a press release read. “Burress is a workers’ compensation and personal injury and attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing working families across North Jersey. Throughout her career, she has taken on insurance companies, corporate defendants, and entrenched systems that put profits and politics ahead of people,” it continued. Plaxico Burress’ wife launches GOP bid for longtime Democratic NJ House seat https://t.co/b7H6sGRbyC — Fox News (@FoxNews) January 15, 2026 Fox News has more: Tiffany Burress, a Pittsburgh native, serves on the Workers’ Comp committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, has been recognized as one of Bergen County’s “top attorneys” and was a collegiate athlete at Penn State University in Centre County, Pennsylvania. In her announcement, she criticized Pou, who won the seat of Bill Pascrell Jr. in 2024 after the Democrat died in office at 87, just months before the election, for the series of “doors” that have “been opened” for her. “Congresswoman Nellie Pou has a charmed life. Fifty years on the government dime, never had a private sector job: In 1997, doors started opening. The party bosses gave Nellie two jobs, a city administrator and a state assembly seat,” Burress said, before pivoting to comparing Pou’s voting record to that of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Burress, running as a Republican, said that instead of having doors opened for her, she “busted through them,” and that, unlike Democrats, is willing to “bust out doors” to tell the GOP they’re wrong when they are. “Every day in court, I fight for people who feel like the system is stacked against them, taking on insurance companies and big corporations that delay, deny, and deflect responsibility when people are hurt on the job or injured through no fault of their own,” Burress said. “It’s a career spent fighting for everyday people who don’t have lobbyists or political connections to help them get ahead. As the daughter of a steelworker and a teacher, I learned early the value of hard work, independence, and standing up for people who need a voice. Families in our district deserve a representative who understands those struggles firsthand and is focused on solutions, not looking for the next promotion from party bosses,” she added. “My name is Tiffany Burress, and I’m running for Congress in NJ-09 against Nellie Pou. I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother, an attorney, and a fighter, and I’m running to take this seat back for the PEOPLE!” Burress wrote on X. Watch her campaign announcement video: My name is Tiffany Burress, and I'm running for Congress in NJ-09 against Nellie Pou. I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother, an attorney, and a fighter, and I’m running to take this seat back for the PEOPLE! Watch my launch video and join us at https://t.co/w8cwpzSSFp pic.twitter.com/OMgqsf3RZc — Tiffany Burress for Congress (@BurressForNJ) January 12, 2026 NJ.com shared further: Though this is Burress’s first political campaign, she has already received backing from some of the state’s most powerful Republicans. In a joint statement to the New Jersey Globe, Passaic GOP Chair Peter Murphy, Bergen GOP Chair Jack DeLorenzo and Hudson GOP Chair Jose Arango said that “Tiffany Burress is the candidate who can win this district.” “With her experience, leadership, and connections in our shared communities, Tiffany has what it takes to bring fresh, accountable representation to North Jersey,” the chairmen said. While the 9th District has long been a Democratic stronghold, President Donald Trump’s surprising performance in the 2024 election emboldened Republicans who hope to flip the seat. The National Republican Congressional Committee named Pou’s seat as a “prime pick-up opportunity” for the GOP in 2026. However, Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s lopsided victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in November 2025 signaled that Trump’s success in 2024 might not translate well for Republicans running in traditionally blue districts. Burress, though, already carries strong name recognition around the state thanks in part to her husband’s NFL career.

Madison Sheahan, the Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stepped down from her position on Thursday to enter the race for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.

Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado gifted her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump at the White House Thursday. Machado met with the president a day after Trump spoke with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, over the phone. Machado had previously dedicated her award to Trump last year “for his decisive support of our cause.” “I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. She said Trump deserved the accolade “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.” Trump thanked Machado for the award and complimented the opposition leader in a post on Truth Social. “It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much,” said Trump. “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!” Top Trump officials have repeated the administration’s commitment to long-term democratic elections in Venezuela, however, the president has not placed a timeline on when elections might happen. Securing trustworthy democratic elections is one of the top priorities of Machado, whose party has been kept out of power in part due to election rigging by Venezuela’s Communist regime. After ousting former Venezuela strongman Nicolás Maduro earlier this month and forcibly extraditing him to New York to face trial on drug-related charges, the Trump administration has left Rodriguez to steady the Venezuela government while using an oil embargo to force Caracas to align itself with U.S. interests. Trump has declined to pressure Rodriguez to turn over the government to the opposition. The White House was reportedly convinced prior to Maduro’s arrest that Machado did not have the sway among Venezuela’s government and power brokers to stabilize the government. Some of the reforms that Washington has tasked Caracas with include ridding foreign influence from nations such as China and Cuba from Venezuela’s government. Washington has kept up pressure on Venezuela by restricting Caracas’ ability to sell oil on the international market. The United States has seized at least half a dozen oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude. The ships belong to a “ghost fleet” of foreign vessels that often use deception to carry sanctioned goods. Instead, Washington has struck a deal with Rodriguez’s administration and will handle the sale of Venezuelan oil on international markets. The Trump administration says it can secure a higher price for Venezuela while keeping influence over Caracas by controlling the flow of its most important export.