Donald Trump has made the bold claim that the US will “100%” acquire Greenland, as Danish officials push back.
Trump has repeatedly been told that Greenland isn’t for sale. Credit: Tasos Katopodis / Getty
Trump, who first floated buying Greenland during his first term in 2019, is now openly suggesting that a US takeover of the semi-autonomous Danish territory could actually happen.
His administration, along with Vice President JD Vance, is ramping up rhetoric and visits to the ice-covered island, home to roughly 57,000 people and a treasure trove of natural resources.
While in Greenland, Vance didn’t hold back in criticizing Denmark for what he described as years of neglect.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”
He added: “I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States. We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”
JD Vance visited a military base in Greenland. Credit: Jim Watson – Pool/Getty
Now, in a new interview with NBC, Trump has claimed: “We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” adding: “Good possibility that we could do it without military force… I don’t take anything off the table.”
Despite the American president’s confident remarks, the message from Nuuk — the capital of Greenland — is clear: Back off.
“We don’t want to be Americans, nor Danes; we are Kalaallit,” said outgoing Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede. “We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland.”
In response to Trump’s latest statement, Egede reiterated during the election campaign: “We deserve to be treated with respect and I don’t think the American president has done that lately since he took office.”
He previously said Greenland should free itself from “the shackles of colonialism” but advocated for gradual steps toward autonomy.
Denmark, meanwhile, is not impressed.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen pushed back at the tone coming from Trump’s White House, per BBC News.
“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen said.
“But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
But why does Trump want Greenland?
Greenland’s location — between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans — makes it a geopolitical prize.
It’s the shortest route for Russian nuclear weapons targeting the US, and it houses Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a critical US defense post since World War II.
Then there are the untapped riches: rare earth minerals, uranium, iron, and melting glaciers potentially revealing new trade routes. Trump clearly wants in.
But why does Trump want Greenland?
Greenland’s location — between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans — makes it a geopolitical prize.
It’s the shortest route for Russian nuclear weapons targeting the US, and it houses Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a critical US defense post since World War II.
Then there are the untapped riches: rare earth minerals, uranium, iron, and melting glaciers potentially revealing new trade routes. Trump clearly wants in.
“We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland,” Trump said at the White House earlier this week.
“It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t,” the POTUS added. “If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that.
“We’re not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation and we’re not talking about peace for the United States. We’re talking about world peace. We’re talking about international security.
“And right now you look at it, you have warships all over the place going through, right along Greenland.”
“You have ships sailed outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places,” he said. “And we’re not going to allow things to happen that are going to be—that are going to hurt the world or the United States.”
“We need greater national security purposes,” Trump has said, per Sky News. “I’ve been told that for a long time, long before I even ran [for president].
“People really don’t even know that Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security.”
This isn’t America’s first attempt to acquire Greenland.
In 1946, the US offered $100 million for the island — a proposal Denmark refused. Even earlier, in 1867, the US considered purchasing Greenland after acquiring Alaska.
An opinion survey in January found that 85% of Greenlanders reject the idea of becoming part of the US, with only 6% in favor. Almost 80% of Greenlanders do support eventual independence — from Denmark.
When BBC journalist Fergal Keane visited earlier this year, locals repeatedly told him: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. So, Trump can visit but that’s it.”
