Trump says he believes US will 'get Greenland'

[Michie]

President Donald Trump has said he believes the US will gain control of Greenland, after showing renewed interest in acquiring the autonomous Danish territory in recent weeks.

"I think we're going to have it," he told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday, adding that the island's 57,000 residents "want to be with us".

His comments come after reports that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen insisted Greenland was not for sale in a fiery phone call with the president last week.
Trump floated the prospect of buying the vast Arctic territory during his first term in 2019, and has said US control of Greenland is an "absolute necessity" for international security.

Continued below.

Donald Trump says he believes the US will 'get Greenland'

The president told reporters the island's 57,000 residents "want to be with us".

www.bbc.com

 

[Fantine]

Latest polls show 6% of the Greenland population is interested.
I suppose Musk could promise to build some huge factory there and maybe they could be "persuaded " He has so much money it would be nothing to him.
But attention must be paid to our territories getting statehood first.
There's transactional behavior, typified by Trump--and there's ethical, character-driven behavior, which should be our national standard.
DC and Puerto Rico first.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Latest polls show 6% of the Greenland population is interested.
I suppose Musk could promise to build some huge factory there and maybe they could be "persuaded " He has so much money it would be nothing to him.
But attention must be paid to our territories getting statehood first.
There's transactional behavior, typified by Trump--and there's ethical, character-driven behavior, which should be our national standard.
DC and Puerto Rico first.

PR has voted down statehood and there is a reason DC is not a state.

 

[Fantine]

The mayor of Washington, DC has called for DC to become a state. Apparently there could be a constitutional problem with it. Here’s Why Washington D.C. Isn’t a State

Puerto Rico voted for statehood (non-binding) on November 5, 2024, so your objection is no longer valid.

The option for statehood achieved a majority of the vote with 620,782 votes, followed by free association with 313,259 votes, and independence with 125,171 votes. 2024 Puerto Rican status referendum - Wikipedia

The other US territories--Guam, Samoa, Virgin Islands--could become states.

Could Guam become a US state? - Geographic FAQ Hub: Answers to Your Global Questions

Could Guam become a US state? As of now, Guam is a U.S. territory and not a state. However, there is a possibility that Guam could become a U.S. state in the future. The admission of any territory as a state requires congressional approval. Guam, along with American Samoa, the Northern Mariana...

www.ncesc.com

 

[PloverWing]

It's probably just some of the exaggerated rambly stuff Trump says, but now that he's president, he needs to stop talking about conquering foreign nations unless he really really means it (in which case, someone needs to talk him out of it).

 

[trophy33]

I suppose Musk could promise to build some huge factory there and maybe they could be "persuaded " He has so much money it would be nothing to him.

The unemployment rate in Greenland was 2.90% as of November 2024. I have no idea what kind of a sustainable factory could Musk build in the arctic region to persuade people to vote for the USA or something.

 

[Fantine]

The unemployment rate in Greenland was 2.90% as of November 2024. I have no idea what kind of a sustainable factory could Musk build in the arctic region.

It wouldn't be built because it was good business, or because it was sustainable. It would be built to incentivize their votes. Perhaps Trump could build a hotel made of ice like the one in Iceland...

And then, when global warming/climate change hit Greenland, he'd finally believe in it!

 

[trophy33]

It wouldn't be built because it was good business, or because it was sustainable. It would be built to incentivize their votes.

How would it incentivize their votes?

 

[Fantine]

It has nothing to do with intelligence. It's what the entire political system is based on.
Congressmen and Senators are supported by voters based on the pork barrel projects they bring to their states. Voters want military bases and roads and bridges and investments to help their economies.

So why would it be surprising if the current president decided it would be good business to bring business or even tourism to Greenland, investing money into their economy? It could work. If Greenlanders' approval of being taken over by the US is only 6%, he needs to do something. They are probably intelligent enough to hold out for lots of incentives.

But the ice hotel would have a certain charm. It could be a demonstration project, and when, as it will, it melts, it would turn out to be the best thing that could ever happen to our climate-imperiled world.

 

[trophy33]

It has nothing to do with intelligence. It's what the entire political system is based on.
Congressmen and Senators are supported by voters based on the pork barrel projects they bring to their states. Voters want military bases and roads and bridges and investments to help their economies.

So why would it be surprising if the current president decided it would be good business to bring business or even tourism to Greenland, investing money into their economy? It could work. If Greenlanders' approval of being taken over by the US is only 6%, he needs to do something. They are probably intelligent enough to hold out for lots of incentives.

But the ice hotel would have a certain charm. It could be a demonstration project, and when, as it will, it melts, it would turn out to be the best thing that could ever happen to our climate-imperiled world.

If the EU built some factory or invested in the Alaska, would Alaskans vote to join the EU?

 

[Fantine]

Alaska is a state. Greenland's relationship to Denmark is different.

But I imagine that Alaskans might be upset about the wholesale destruction of their environment that will probably take place. Lots of Alaskans live there because they cherish the environment and nature.

 

[trophy33]

Alaska is a state. Greenland's relationship to Denmark is different.

But I imagine that Alaskans might be upset about the wholesale destruction of their environment that will probably take place. Lots of Alaskans live there because they cherish the environment and nature.

And in the similar manner, it would not work in Greenland. Do you know that the vast majority of Greenland lies in the arctic circle? The population lives in few places to the south and they have about 38 factories already, most of them focused on fish and various sea life.

Regarding the status, it was Denmark that allowed Greenland to decide their independence. Without that, no vote would change anything.

 

[Richard T]

So we now are going from an arms race to a "land" race. Since China and Russia are on the same course, I'm guessing things will not turn out too well. While anyone would want Greenland for its resources, I do think that it should be done with grace and without any threats to USA allies. So far it is not working out that way. EU gives Denmark 'full support' against Trump's threats: António Costa

 

[rebornfree]

Alaska is a state. Greenland's relationship to Denmark is different.

But I imagine that Alaskans might be upset about the wholesale destruction of their environment that will probably take place. Lots of Alaskans live there because they cherish the environment and nature.

Ditto Greenlanders perhaps?

Trump tried to build a golf course in Scotland and met with local opposition because locals valued their environment. Not everyone wants 'development'.