President has repeatedly expressed idea of expansion into autonomous territory within fellow Nato member Denmark
Donald Trump declined to rule out the use of military force to assert control over Greenland, the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory of Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
Since assuming office, the former U.S. president has repeatedly floated the idea of American expansion into Greenland—an idea that has drawn widespread criticism and concern from both the island’s residents and the broader international community. Greenland holds significant strategic value due to its location and potential mineral resources.
During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump was asked directly whether he would consider using force in relation to the territory.
“I don’t rule it out. I’m not saying I’ll do it, but I won’t rule out anything,” Donald Trump said when asked whether he would consider using military force to gain control of Greenland. “We need Greenland very badly. It has a small population—we’ll take care of them, we’ll cherish them, and all that. But we need it for international security.”
The remarks came during a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, marking Trump’s first 100 days back in office. The conversation touched on several controversial topics, including the possibility of military action against Canada—an idea once considered unimaginable, but now the subject of speculation due to Trump’s repeated claim that he would like to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
“It’s highly unlikely. I don’t see it with Canada. I just don’t see it, I have to be honest with you,” Trump said.
He noted that he had spoken recently with Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, and confirmed that the two had not yet discussed the possibility of Canadian statehood. However, Trump added that the topic might come up during Carney’s upcoming visit to Washington, expected “this week or next.”
Carney, along with roughly 90% of Canadians, is opposed to the idea of Canada joining the United States. Still, Trump said he was open to the conversation.
“I’ll always talk about that. You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year,” Trump claimed. “We don’t need their cars. In fact, we don’t want their cars. We don’t need their energy. We don’t even want their energy. We have more than they do. We don’t want their lumber. We have great lumber—better lumber. All I have to do is free it up from the environmental lunatics.”
Trump added that incorporating Canada into the United States wouldn’t be a burden but a benefit.
“If Canada was part of the U.S., it wouldn’t cost us. It would be great—it would be a cherished state,” he said. “And if you look at the map, if you look at the geography—I’m a real estate guy at heart. When I look at that without the artificial line drawn with a ruler many years ago—it was just an artificial line, goes straight across. You don’t even realize.”
“What a beautiful country it would be,” he added.
Despite Trump’s enthusiasm, public opinion remains firmly against the idea. A poll published last month by ABC News found that 68% of Americans believe Trump is serious about trying to annex Greenland, and 53% think he’s also serious about potentially taking control of Canada. However, most Americans don’t support the notion: 86% opposed annexing Canada, and 76% were against trying to take over Greenland.
