In a twist that might not come as a huge shock to anyone paying attention to global politics, openly expressing a desire to take control of parts of other nations doesn’t exactly win you any friends.
Just a week into Donald Trump’s second term, and he’s already managed to ruffle feathers across the political spectrum.
Well, maybe not all of the right.
That being said, you can now count nearly the entire populations of Denmark and Greenland among those unimpressed with Trump’s early days back in office. Why? Because the president seems dead set on trying to claim Greenland as U.S. territory.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
Greenland, an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark, has caught Trump’s interest as he insists it should belong to the United States, citing national security as the main reason.
Trump remarked to reporters, “People don’t really know if Denmark has any legal right to it,” and went on to suggest, “But if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security – that’s for the free world. I’m talking about protecting the free world.”
He also pointed to increasing activity in the region, explaining, “You don’t even need binoculars, you look outside you have China, ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We’re not letting that happen.”
Trump’s fiery phone call to Denmark’s PM
Trump’s heated phone call with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reportedly left Danish officials deeply unsettled. The conversation, described as “horrendous,” made it clear to Denmark that Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland was both genuine and potentially alarming. The situation shifted from rhetoric to a serious concern, with officials realizing the U.S. had a determined and possibly dangerous focus on the island.
Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland from Denmark was met with firm resistance. Denmark, unequivocally unwilling to sell, pushed back hard. Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament from the right-wing populist Danish People’s Party, didn’t mince words.
“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It’s an integrated part of our country,” he stated. “It is not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr Trump: F**k off.”
His blunt response left little room for misinterpretation.
So, what’s Greenland’s take on all this?
There’s an independence movement brewing in Greenland, and their Prime Minister, Múte Egede, is fully on board with it. But even if Greenland does part ways with Denmark, it doesn’t mean they’re in any hurry to cozy up to the idea of becoming a U.S. territory.
Egede has made it clear: “Greenland is not for sale and will never be for sale.”
Meanwhile, Trump has been tossing out ideas about bringing other nations into the fold as U.S. territories. He’s floated some bold (and controversial) notions—like trying to rename the Gulf of Mexico, though the rest of the world hasn’t exactly jumped on board with that. He’s also proclaimed that he’s “taking back” the Panama Canal.
And in true Trump fashion, he’s even suggested Canada should step up and become the “51st state.”