Widespread selloff hits stocks as Trump’s threats over Greenland unnerve investors
A widespread selloff swept through global stock markets on January 20, 2026, triggered by President Trump’s renewed threats of tariffs against several European nations over U.S. ambitions to acquire Greenland. Investors feared escalating trade tensions reminiscent of earlier “Sell America” trades, driving sharp declines in major indexes.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.76% to nearly 900 points, marking its worst day since October. The S&P 500 fell 2.06%, Nasdaq Composite plunged 2.39%, and Europe’s STOXX 600 shed 0.7%.
Trump targeted Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Britain, and Norway with tariff hikes unless Greenland is offered for sale. EU leaders planned retaliatory tariffs worth up to $109 billion at a Brussels summit.
The dollar weakened, U.S. Treasury yields spiked, and investors rushed to gold and silver, which hit record highs. Volatility index VIX surged to 20.99, an eight-week peak.
