Few took the president-elect’s combative comments at face value, but they still sent a shudder through a country that has been invaded by the United States before.

Authorities of Panama and Greenland have repeatedly said they won’t hand over any territory to Trump, with Panama’s president declaring that the canal "is going to stay in our hands forever," and Denmark’s prime minister insisting “Greenland is not for sale.”

His rambling news conference included complaints about electric heaters that cause itching and lies about the criminal cases against him.