Trump claims Europe used to call him 'daddy' as he blasts NATO and makes stance on Greenland clear

Donald Trump has ridiculed Europe as he made the United States’ stance on Greenland clear in a new speech.

Donald Trump has addressed the backlash he has faced for insisting the US needs to take control of Greenland during his speech at the World Economic Forum annual meeting.

While at the podium, he insisted that Europe and NATO had to make a choice regarding the US’ desire to annex the Denmark-owned nation.

During his speech he said: "We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they [Denmark] won't give it. We've never asked for anything else.

"We could have kept that piece of land and we didn't."

Speaking of Europe and NATO specifically he said: "They have a choice - you can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember."

Trump said Europe had a decision to make regarding their stance on the US acquiring Greenland (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

In an odd turn, Trump also remarked that Europe used to refer to him as ‘Daddy’ before much of the criticism he has received of late.

Seemingly confusing Iceland with Greenland, Trump said: “I'm helping Europe. I'm helping NATO, and until the last few days when I told them about Iceland.

“When I told them about Iceland, they loved me.

“They called me ‘daddy’ right, last time, a very smart man said ‘he is our daddy’, 'he is out running it'. I was stuck running it, I went from running it to being a terrible human being.

“But now what I'm asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located.”

This appeared to be in reference to comments made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last year.

His ‘daddy’ comment followed on from Trump using expletives when discussing Iran and Israel violating a ceasefire agreement in June last year.

Interjecting, following Trump’s comments about the two nations, Rutte said: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop."

Trump brought up the time Mark Rutte referred to the president as 'Daddy' during his speech (Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

However, following raised eyebrows across the political landscape, Rutte spoke to Reuters and clarified his comments.

He said he was using the term metaphorically to describe the relationship between the US and Iran and Israel in that situation, as well as the US’ relations with other nations.

He explained: “The 'daddy' thing -- I didn't call him 'daddy'. In Europe, I hear sometimes countries saying, 'Hey, Mark, will the U.S. stay with us?' And I said that sounds a little bit like a small child asking his daddy, 'Hey, are you still staying with the family?'

“So in that sense, I used 'daddy', not that I was calling President Trump 'daddy.'”