President-elect Donald Trump has intensified his calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, describing control of the Danish territory as "an absolute necessity." On Monday he announced that his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., would visit Greenland this week as part of efforts to engage with the island.
"My son, Don Jr., and various representatives will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. "Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world."
Trump Jr. told Fox News he was looking forward to the trip. "As someone who has traveled to some fascinating places across the globe as an outdoorsman, I'm excited to stop into Greenland for a little bit of fun this week," he said.
The visit comes amid renewed calls from Trump to acquire Greenland. Last month the president-elect reiterated his belief that the territory would be a strategic asset, saying that U.S. ownership would provide critical advantages.
Trump first floated this during his first term in office; he said in 2019 that the island is "interesting" from a strategic standpoint. "We'd be interested, but we'll have to talk to them a little bit," Trump added then, saying "they're losing a tremendous amount of money."
Denmark already said the territory was not for sale back then, prompting Trump to cancel a visit to the country.
The U.S. attempted to purchase Greenland twice before Trump: once in 1867 and then in 1946. Then-President Harry Truman offered $100 million, but the offer was rejected by Denmark.
Greenland's leadership continues to remain firm in its opposition to the initiative, with Prime Minister Múte Egede recently making it clear that the autonomous island will not be sold. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."
Trump's territorial ambitions extend beyond Greenland. He has suggested his incoming administration could take back control of the Panama Canal, an idea swiftly dismissed by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who stated in a video last month that "sovereignty and independence of our country is nonnegotiable."
Trump has also repeatedly floated the idea of absorbing Canada, proposing it as the United States' 51st state. These comments, while provocative, have not yet been formally addressed by Canadian leadership.
Trump's recent territorial ambitions have drawn mixed reactions, with critics questioning their feasibility and potential impact on U.S. foreign relations. According to a new analysis by The Washington Post, Trump's "America First" foreign policy, which emphasizes territorial expansion, represents a significant departure from diplomatic norms. The president-elect, who campaigned on "peace through strength" during his 2024 bid, appears to be doubling down on his first-term approach of aggressively promoting American interests, often at the expense of traditional alliances and international commitments.
Trump's team, however, insists there is a broader strategy behind his remarks. "World leaders are flocking to the table because President Trump is already delivering on his promise to Make America Strong Again," said transition spokeswoman Anna Kelly. An anonymous Trump official added that these moves are part of a calculated effort to counter the influence of global powers like Russia and China.
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