Politicians from five parties in Greenland’s parliament said in a joint statement that the people of the island want to decide their own future, after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on threats that he would “do something, whether they like it or not.”
Trump claims: ‘Greenland is Crucial to U.S. National Security’
In a meeting with oil and gas executives at the White House,Trump said that Greenland is crucial to U.S. national security. “We are not going to let Russia or China occupy Greenland. If we don’t do it, they will. We are going to do something on Greenland, either the easy way or the hard way.” Trump said for the reporters.
The White House confirmed that Trump is “actively” considering making an offer to buy the island with his national security team.
Population and International Reaction
Greenlanders have consistently rejected the idea of becoming part of the U.S. – according to a 2025 poll, 85% of the population opposes that option.
The Danes, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, told Trump that the U.S. has no right to annex Greenland and thatmilitary action would seriously jeopardize NATO and Europeansecurity.
U.S. Military Presence
The U.S. has had a military base in the northwest of Greenland since the World War II, with more than 100 permanently stationed personnel. Existing agreements with Denmark allowthe U.S.A to bring in additional troops, but Trump claims that “a lease is not enough; countries have to have ownership.”
The President of Greenland’s National Confederation of Trade Unions (SIK), Jess Berthelsen, dismissed Trump’s claims that Russian and Chinese ships are “all over the place” around Greenland. “We can’t see it, we can’t recognize it and we can’t understand it,” said Berthelsen.
