Trump pushes U.S. control of Greenland

Diplomatic divisions are growing over the future of Greenland, the Danish territory President Donald Trump says the United States must control.

(NBC)- Diplomatic divisions are growing over the future of Greenland, the Danish territory President Donald Trump says the United States must control.

“We need Greenland for national security,” Trump said.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen responded by saying, “The President has made his view clear, and we have a different position.”

Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met at the White House with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said President Trump would prefer to buy the massive island territory. According to three people familiar with the estimate, the proposal could cost as much as $700 billion.

Denmark, a NATO ally, has made clear that Greenland is not for sale.

President Trump has not ruled out the use of military force, citing what he views as potential threats from other major powers.

“The problem is, there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do,” Trump said.

Rasmussen pushed back on that claim, saying, “It is not a true narrative that we have, you know, Chinese warships all around the place.”

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both parties are speaking out against any military action involving Greenland.

Senator Angus King of Maine called such a move “the most serious national geopolitical mistake this country could make.”

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina added, “The not smart, unachievable way is whoever told the President that this was a viable path. It doesn’t make sense.”

Many lawmakers are instead emphasizing the importance of alliances and the existing U.S. military presence in Greenland to help secure the Arctic region.

Among Greenland’s population of roughly 57,000, anxiety is growing as leaders say discussions will continue.