Under the Trump administration, the United States attempted to buy Greenland from Denmark, who made it clear that it isn’t for sale. The island would offer the United States many strategic advantages, and this isn’t the first time that they have attempted to buy it. The attempt to buy Greenland has left Greenlanders protesting against the U.S..
In 1867, the United States’ interest in Greenland started, but the first attempt to buy Greenland didn’t happen until 1946. The reason for the interest in Greenland was reported to be the geology and ecology of the island’s rich shores and strategic placement in the North Atlantic.
According to CNN, “President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the island, though Denmark rejected the bid.”
President Trump expressed his interest in Greenland back in his first term in 2019, but both Greenland and Denmark were clear that it still wasn’t for sale. At the end of 2025, Trump made a statement about taking Greenland.
Trump said, I’d love to make a deal with them. It’s easier. But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
While Trump made it clear he would prefer to make a deal with Denmark for Greenland, in recent statements he made it clear that he is not against using military power to take it by force.
Trump states, “But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
Denmark has made it clear that they are not willing to make a deal with the United States, leaving how far Trump will go to acquire Greenland up for debate.
While Denmark is the country that owns Greenland, the people who live there have formed their own opinions about potentially becoming Americans. Hundreds of Greenlanders have taken to the streets, protesting against Trump.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four party leaders said, “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
Protests against Trump in both the United States and Greenland, and Denmark’s refusal to make a deal, have left Greenland in a questionable position. Trump has threatened to invade them with military power, and the United States establishing a military presence in Greenland makes that a plausible course of action. Whether Trump will follow through on his threats or give up on the purchase of Greenland will soon be seen.