President Donald Trump tried to undertaking confidence on a delicate worldwide situation this week — however the longer he talked, the stranger the second grew to become.
Whereas talking with reporters aboard Air Pressure One on Sunday night time, Trump was pressed on his administration’s place concerning Greenland and Denmark, and his solutions shortly sparked backlash.
“Have you ever made a tangible provide to Greenland but? Have you ever made an precise provide to Denmark,” a reporter requested.
“I haven’t accomplished that,” Trump started earlier than instantly contradicting himself. “Greenland ought to make the deal as a result of Greenland doesn’t wish to see Russia or China take over,” he mentioned. “Mainly, their protection is 2 canine sleds. You realize that? You realize what their protection is? Two canine sleds.”
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Closing with, “… if it impacts NATO, then it impacts NATO. However, , they want us greater than we want them, I’ll let you know that proper now.”
Trump ignited one more firestorm throughout social media.
“Republicans, why are you letting this occur?” requested a livid viewer.
“This man will bankrupt the US and go away us fully weak. It’s probably he and his cronies have already used doge and their worldwide connections to take as a lot cash for themselves,” one other added.
Days earlier throughout a White Home roundtable with greater than a dozen oil executives, Trump responded to questions on how a lot cash the US would possibly provide Greenlanders to help a potential takeover. And he made it clear that consent was not central to his pondering.
“I’m not speaking about cash for Greenland but,” Trump mentioned. “I’d discuss that, however proper now we’re going to do one thing on Greenland, whether or not they prefer it or not, as a result of if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.”
Trump didn’t acknowledge that Russia already borders the US throughout the Bering Strait. As reporters pressed him additional, Trump escalated his rhetoric whereas making an attempt to melt it with reward for Denmark.
“I want to make a deal the straightforward approach, but when we don’t do it the straightforward approach, we’re going to do it the exhausting approach. And by the best way, I’m a fan of Denmark too. I’ve to let you know, they usually’ve been very good to me. I’m an enormous fan, however the truth that they’d a ship land there 500 years in the past doesn’t imply that they personal the land,” he mentioned.
The remarks instantly drew a flood of criticism on-line, not just for the implied risk of pressure towards a NATO ally, but additionally for Trump’s assertion that the U.S. wouldn’t tolerate Russia as a neighbor—regardless of the 2 international locations already being separated by just some miles of water.
Critics wasted little time mentioning the contradiction.
“Geography is clearly not this tremendous genius’ sturdy go well with,” mentioned one who shared a map of the area. “We’re 2.4 miles aside from one another.”
Others questioned the sincerity of Trump’s nationwide safety framing, noting that U.S. entry to Greenland has lengthy existed with out confrontation.
“Actually odd because the U.S. shut about 10 bases on Greenland since world struggle 2… and guess what Greenland have mentioned if the people wish to reopen these bases they will,” one other wrote on Threads. “so why the large drama and all of the robust man speak… is it actually nationwide safety or is it as a result of Greenland has oil and uncommon earth minerals?”
Many framed Trump’s statements as a direct risk towards NATO.
“The remainder of the UN must do one thing,” one individual insisted. “Europe must sanction him. Take his golf programs, freeze his property, situation an arrest warrant. F—king do one thing.”
One other requested, “The place the hell is the U.S. army who swore an oath to defend the Structure?”
Others raised moral issues, suggesting Trump held monetary motives tied to uncommon earth minerals.
“Donald Trump Jr.’s funding agency, 1789 Capital, backed Vulcan Parts, a rare-earth magnet startup that obtained a big $620 million Pentagon mortgage in late 2025 as half of a bigger $1.4 billion deal to spice up U.S. home magnet manufacturing, sparking ethics issues as a consequence of his involvement and prior investments in government-contracted corporations. Guess what’s in Greenland?”
Greenland’s political management responded decisively. In a joint assertion issued after Trump once more refused to rule out pressure, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and 4 celebration leaders rejected the premise of a U.S. takeover.
“We don’t wish to be People, we don’t wish to be Danes, we wish to be Greenlanders,” they declared.
The leaders emphasised that sovereignty rests solely with the island’s inhabitants. “Greenland’s future should be determined by the Greenlandic folks,” the assertion mentioned whereas condemning Trump’s strongman posture.
“As Greenlandic celebration leaders, we want to emphasize as soon as once more our want that the US’ contempt for our nation ends,” including, “No different nation can intrude on this.”
The assertion was signed by Nielsen, Pele Broberg, Múte B. Egede, Aleqa Hammond, and Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen.
Within the midst of the escalating threats, Denmark and Greenland’s international ministers are set to satisfy with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the White Home on Wednesday.
Danish International Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s International Minister Vivian Motzfeldt requested the assembly in hopes of getting a possibility “the place we will look one another within the eye and discuss these items.”
Rasmussen confirmed that Vance requested to hitch the talks and can host the assembly in Washington.
