U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable meeting on "Great and Historic Rural Health Investment" at the White House on the 16th (local time). Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 16th (local time) that "we may impose tariffs on countries that do not cooperate with us on the Greenland issue because we need national security."

President Trump made these remarks at the White House during a roundtable meeting on "Great and Historic Rural Health Investment," while explaining the positive impact of his tariff policy on national security and the economy.

It is interpreted that President Trump, who has strongly expressed his desire to annex Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, sent a warning message that he may impose tariffs on countries that oppose this stance.

The argument was that Greenland's relevance to U.S. national security serves as a basis for imposing tariffs.

President Trump holds the position that the U.S. must acquire Greenland, a strategic gateway located on the shortest shipping route connecting North America and Europe, and a region rich in mineral resources.

In particular, amidst President Trump's declarations that if the U.S. does not secure Greenland, China or Russia will, some officials in the Trump administration, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have stated that military action would not be ruled out as an option.

Later, President Trump met with reporters at the White House and stated that he would discuss the situation in Greenland with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Regarding the trade agreement between Canada and China, President Trump said, "He (Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney) did what he had to do." He added, "It's a good thing to have signed a trade agreement. If you have to do business with China, you have to do it."

The leaders of Canada and China declared a "new strategic partnership" at a summit held in Beijing that day and agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola seeds.

President Trump said that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, whom he met with the previous day, presented him with the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a "very nice gesture" and stating his intention to have further discussions with Machado.

He also praised Machado, calling her "a very wonderful woman" and "someone I respect greatly," and said he was "very impressed."

Previously, President Trump had mentioned the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act for Minnesota, where protests against immigration enforcement were intensifying. He stated, "If necessary, I will use it (the Insurrection Act)," but added, "I don't think it's necessary right now."

President Trump stated on Truth Social today, "I deeply respect the cancellation of all scheduled executions (over 800) by the Iranian leadership yesterday."

As the Iranian government brutally suppressed ongoing anti-government protests, President Trump had been pressuring the Iranian government by mentioning the possibility of military intervention.

During the roundtable meeting today, President Trump discussed the Trump administration and Republican-led increase in the budget for rural healthcare services by $50 billion (approximately 73.7 trillion won), stating that it "will be used to strengthen rural hospitals, increase staffing, and modernize facilities and technology."

This is interpreted as a move to appeal to rural voters, a key demographic for his support, ahead of the midterm elections in November.

President Trump stated, "I prioritize rural areas," and added, "We won in rural areas by a more overwhelming margin than ever before."

President Trump also commented, "For many people, there is nothing more important than this, perhaps except national defense. We need defense, but we also need offense."