Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland on Tuesday, meeting with locals and reigniting discussions after his father, President-elect Donald Trump, reiterated that the U.S. should acquire the autonomous Danish territory, calling it “in the national interest” of the United States.
Don Jr. called the trip a “very long personal day trip” and posted selfies and a video declaring Greenland “cool.” He told local media that the trip was “private” and did not involve negotiations or transactions. However, his visit, contemporaneous with his father’s comments, added to the controversy over Greenland’s strategic value to the US and Trump Sr.’s draconian dream to take it over.
President-elect Trump has repeatedly said the US should “buy” Greenland. On the campaign trail, and more recently on his social media platform, Truth Social, he described the island as vital for U.S. national security and global freedom.
On Tuesday during a 70-minute presser, he underscored the importance of both Greenland and the Panama Canal for U.S. “economic security.”
“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Trump asserted.
When asked by reporters whether he would use military or economic measures to acquire Greenland, Trump did not dismiss the possibility.
Trump’s interest in Greenland dates back to August 2019 during his first term, when he compared his proposal to similar historical U.S. colonial ambitions.
The world’s largest island that isn’t a continent, Greenland has crucial geopolitical significance. The island is home to a large US military base and is considered strategically important as geopolitical rivals like China and Russia jockey for control of the Arctic. Experts highlight its importance in monitoring the Arctic, particularly Russia’s Northern Sea Route. The island is also rich in resources, including hydrocarbons, rare earth minerals, and uranium—key to the green energy transition.
As an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of 56,000, Greenland has its own parliament and government. However, Denmark oversees the island’s foreign, defense, and security policies.
Responding to Trump’s refusal to rule out a takeover, Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, stated firmly once again that Greenland is “not for sale.”
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” the PM said. Nevertheless, as a “close ally” of the US she said there is “a reason to be pleased” with Trump’s interest in the region but it must be “respectful of the population of Greenland” and cooperation must happen in the usual ways “in NATO and in other international fora.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, also issued a strong statement. “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Our future and fight for independence is our business,” he said. Egede criticized external pressures and highlighted Greenland’s ongoing efforts toward independence.
Denmark’s King Frederik X recently modified the country’s coat of arms to give Greenland and the Faroe Islands greater prominence. The new design, unveiled on January 1, is seen as a nod to the territories’ significance within the Danish Realm.
In his New Year’s speech, the king declared, “We are all united,” stressing the connection between Denmark and its autonomous territories.