The secretary-general of NATO negotiated a deal President Trump didn't know he could have: Military bases in Greenland as sovereign territory of the United States – without invading or buying the island.

It's the same arrangement the United Kingdom has with Malta.

After flip-flopping on Greenland, he said in a social media post he wouldn't use tariffs to try to wrest control of the Danish territory. But don't take that to the bank. In a social media post he said the threat of tariffs – anywhere from 10% on all goods from eight countries to 200% on French wine – was off while his aides and Europeans negotiated.

So, that deal is as unstable as nearly everything in Trump's second term.

Announcement of the deal was just one of the staggering events of Wednesday. The only normal thing, it seemed, was a warning from the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance (UAWTA) that 200% tariffs on French wine risked imperiling an American industry already experiencing widespread layoffs and contraction, the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance (USWTA) said.

Wine Tariffs

America’s wine import and distribution ecosystem is already shrinking, USWTA said . Since early 2025, major U.S. distributors and importers have collectively laid off many thousands of American workers, citing declining volumes, higher carrying costs, existing tariffs, and prolonged market uncertainty. These layoffs have affected sales teams, logistics and transportation roles, portfolio managers, warehouse staff, and administrative employees across multiple states.

During the 2019–2021 tariff period, economic analysis submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) found that every $1.00 of damage imposed on European wine exporters resulted in approximately $4.52 of collateral damage within the United States, borne almost entirely by American companies and workers.

Even as a threat, a 200% tariff would freeze commerce, accelerate layoffs and punish Americans that have no role in geopoliticsUSWTA said.

“Tariffs don’t hit foreign producers—they hit businesses like mine,” said Harry Root, owner of Grassroots Distribution in South Carolina. “When costs suddenly spike or inventory becomes uncertain, small distributors are forced to pull back immediately. That means fewer purchases, fewer sales routes, and staff cuts. A 200% tariff would be catastrophic for small, independent distributors and the communities we serve.”

Military Archbishop: Troops Can Ignore Invasion Order

Trump's U-turn on Greenland was hardly the only extraordinary event of yesterday. Cardinal Timothy Broglio, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said it would be "morally acceptable" for troops to disobey orders that went against their consciences.

His statement followed Trump's statement to The New York Times with regard to invading Greenland that he is constrained only by his "own morality." Broglio suggested international law and one's own moral principles should go hand in hand, the BBC reported.

Trump 'Blows Up' Liberal Democratic Order

In an extraordinary speech to the World Economic Forum, Trump said, in the words of The New York Times  the United States was done offering its markets and its military protection to European allies he derided as freeloaders. And he vowed to advance his trade war. He characterized tariffs as the price of admission to a land of 300 million consumers.

“The United States is keeping the whole world afloat,” Trump said. “Everybody took advantage of the United States.”