DAVOS, Switzerland — Air Force One turned around mid-flight as President Donald Trump was heading to Davos, Switzerland, after the crew identified “a minor electrical issue,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday night.
The aircraft turned back and was set to land at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland,where the president and those traveling with him were set to board a different aircraft and then resume travel to Switzerland for the global economic conference.The flight issue came as Trump is making his first international trip of 2026.“`html
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2026.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock
Since the start of his second term, Trump has slowly been building the case for why the U.S. should take control of Greenland, arguing it is vital for U.S. national security needs.in recent weeks his rhetoric on a takeover has escalated as he has refused to rule out military action.
NASA report published in 2022. the rate of ice loss has accelerated significantly in recent years, and current projections indicate a continued and perhaps faster melt rate throughout the 21st century.
Recent studies, including research published in Nature on January 15, 2024, indicate that the Greenland ice sheet is now losing mass at a rate six times faster than in the 1980s. This acceleration is primarily driven by warming ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric temperatures, both linked to human-caused climate change.
Key Findings:
- Ice Loss: 2.7 trillion tons of ice lost between 2002-2020. (NASA)
- Sea Level Rise: 0.79 inches (2 cm) of global sea level rise attributed to greenland’s ice loss (2002-2020). (NASA)
- Acceleration: Ice loss rate is six times faster now than in the 1980s. (Nature, January 15, 2024)
The melting ice sheet poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide. The intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, released in 2018, projects that continued warming will lead to further ice sheet melt and accelerated sea level rise, increasing the risk of coastal flooding, erosion, and displacement.
Scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) report that surface melt is now contributing more to Greenland’s ice loss than glacier calving, a process where large chunks of ice break off into the ocean. According to NSIDC data from December 20, 2023, the 2023 summer melt season was particularly intense, exceeding the 1995-2005 average by 50%.
Further research is ongoing to refine projections of future ice loss and sea level rise, but the current trend indicates a continued and concerning trajectory. The Greenland ice sheet holds enough water to raise global sea levels by approximately 23 feet (7 meters) if it were to melt completely.
