Trump Talks Greenland, Panama Canal, Jan. 6 Pardons in Press Conference

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 7, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump spoke on a range of issues Tuesday at a press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, including pardons for Jan. 6 defendants, foreign investment, his classified documents case, and more.

The president-elect held the news conference just 13 days before his inauguration.

Comments on Greenland, Panama Canal

As his son, Donald Trump Jr., visits Greenland this week, the president-elect discussed his wish for the United States to control the Panama Canal and Greenland. He also joked about naming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” which he said would be “appropriate” and “beautiful.”

It isn’t the first time Trump has suggested renaming a geographic site. The president-elect weeks ago announced he would rename Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, back to Mt. McKinley.

Trump signaled the possibility of placing a “very high level” of tariffs on Denmark in a bid for the United States to acquire Greenland, the world’s largest island largely located above the Arctic Circle. Greenland, home to a large U.S. military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO.

“You have approximately 45,000 people there. People really don’t even know that Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” he told reporters.

Regarding the Panama Canal, which the U.S. government built but handed over to the Panamanian government under the Carter administration decades ago, Trump did not rule out using military force to acquire the waterway.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. “It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.”

“We gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn’t give it to China,” Trump said. “They’ve abused that gift.”

Touts $20 Billion Investment

The president confirmed a $20 billion foreign investment to construct U.S. data centers by billionaire Hussain Sajwani, an Emirati developer. He’s pledging “at least” that amount for construction across the United States.

“They may go double, or even somewhat more than double, that amount of money,” Trump said of the billionaire’s company, adding that construction will start in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.

Sajwani, who was at the Mar-a-Lago press event, said it was “amazing news for me and my family when [Trump] was elected.”

“We’ve been waiting four years to increase our investment in [the] U.S. to very large amounts of money,” he said.

Sajwani has said that Trump’s initial election to the presidency helped increase the profile of his company.

The investment by Sajwani ’s DAMAC Properties appeared to be intended to show Trump’s ability to attract new money for big projects in the United States. The announcement follows a pledge made last month by the Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son to invest $100 billion in the United States.

Judge’s Decision to Block Special Counsel Report

Trump hailed the decision a federal judge made on Tuesday to block the Department of Justice (DOJ) from releasing a report by special counsel Jack Smith on his classified documents investigation into the president-elect and two associates.

Attorneys for the defendants had sought to block the DOJ from releasing the report, while Smith said in court papers this week it could be released as early as Friday.

The special counsel’s office and the DOJ “lost in court in front of a very strong and a very brilliant judge,” Trump told reporters, referring to District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. He also accused Smith of wanting to release a “500-page report” that would be filled with what he described as “fake” information meant to denigrate him.

Issues Warning Over Gaza Hostages

The president-elect again warned the Hamas terrorist organization that it needs to release hostages who were captured during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel.

“It will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out. I don’t have to say anymore, but that’s what it is,” he said.

His incoming special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, appeared at the news conference and expressed optimism that the negotiations will produce results before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

“I’m really hopeful that by the inaugural, we'll have some good things to announce on behalf of the president,” Witkoff said.

Media reports have indicated that about 100 hostages, including several American citizens, are still being held by Hamas in Gaza. During the Oct. 7 attack, which left 1,200 civilians dead, more than 250 were abducted by Hamas, officials have said.

Signals ‘Major Pardons’ for Jan. 6 Defendants

In the news conference, Trump offered his latest comments on what he now describes as “major pardons” for people who were arrested in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

A reporter asked him: “You said on your first day of office you were going to pardon Jan. 6 defendants. Are you planning to pardon those who were charged with violent offenses?”

“Well, we’re looking at it, and we have other people in there,” Trump said in response, adding that “people that didn’t even walk into the building are in jail right now.”

“We’ll be looking at the whole thing. But I’ll be making major pardons, yes,” he said.

The president-elect did not provide any other details, including the defendants he might pardon. On Monday, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who received a 22-year-long sentence, asked Trump to grant him a pardon and noted that he never entered the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Trump also suggested that the FBI is aware of who planted two pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic national offices in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021. In recent days, the FBI released new video footage of the suspect.

“The FBI knows who it is. The status of the FBI has gone down,” Trump said, suggesting the bureau’s credibility has suffered in recent years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.