The incoming Trump administration has reignited discussion about the possibility of the United States purchasing Greenland, an idea that was floated during the president-elect's first term.
During his first term, President Trump tweeted an edited image of the Greenland coast with the Trump Tower building superimposed on the landscape. The caption read: “I promise I won't do this to Greenland!”
In August 2019, President Trump admitted to reporters that he was interested in purchasing Greenland, an idea that sparked curiosity and debate.
“Denmark essentially owns it,” Trump said. “We have a very good alliance with Denmark, and we protect Denmark the same way we protect most of the world. So this concept came up and I said, 'Sure.'” Strategic It's interesting and we're interested, but we're going to have a little discussion with them, it's not the number one topic, I can tell you that. ”
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during the House Republican Conference at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2024. (Alison Robert Poole/Getty Images)
The Wall Street Journal first reported Trump's interest, citing sources who said the president had mentioned the idea with “varying degrees of seriousness.”
The idea was shelved after Joe Biden took office in 2021, but resurfaced online following Trump's victory earlier this month.
Georgia Republican Congressman Mike Collins posted on November 7th what appeared to be an electoral map depicting Greenland as a region that voted Republican. It had the caption “Project 2029.”
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Since then, Danish lawmakers have opposed the idea of the United States purchasing Greenland as a U.S. territory. According to a post by Rasmus Jarlov, the Danish parliament has no intention of offering the territory to anyone, especially the United States.
“Greenland's independence requires approval by the Danish parliament and amendments to the constitution,” Jerlov wrote. “I assure you there is no way we would approve independence so you could buy Greenland. It's a nice fantasy, but forget it.”
This is not the first time the United States has considered purchasing strategically valuable Arctic land.
After World War II, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in 1946, but Denmark refused.
The idea actually came about in early 1945 when Sen. Owen Brewster (R-Maine) called Greenland a “military necessity” backed by American military leaders. Ta.
Houses along the coast of Nuuk, Greenland. (Marley Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
In 1946, State Department officials stated that the Joint Chiefs of Staff believed the United States should seek to purchase the territory. In December of that year, Secretary of State James Burns made a direct offer to Danish Foreign Minister Gustav Rasmussen, suggesting that a sale might be the easiest solution.
American interest in Greenland goes back even further. In 1867, the State Department recognized the strategic importance of Greenland and Iceland and considered purchasing both countries.
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If Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States, it would be the largest expansion of U.S. territory in history, surpassing the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
