President Donald Trump has stated that the United States needs to annex Greenland “for defense,” according to an interview published Sunday. The comment comes amid ongoing resistance from both Danish and Greenlandic officials regarding U.S. interest in the territory.
Trump, who resumed office in January 2025, has continued to raise the possibility of bringing Greenland under U.S. control. The idea has faced repeated rejection from Denmark and Greenland.
During a news conference on Saturday, following the apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio referenced possible U.S. military actions elsewhere in the Americas. When asked if Maduro’s capture should signal to other countries—such as Greenland—that military action might be considered for other objectives, Trump said, “They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know … But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.” He also noted that the NATO ally is “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”
Greenland is a self-governing territory within Denmark and hosts the United States’ northernmost military base. The island contains significant natural resources including oil, natural gas, and minerals.
In a nationally televised speech in March, Trump said his administration was “working with everybody involved to try and get it,” referring to Greenland. He added: “We need it really for international world security,” and expressed confidence: “we’re going to get it, one way or the other.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede responded at that time via Facebook, stating that Greenland would determine its own future and does not wish to become American any more than it wants to remain Danish.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was appointed as Trump’s envoy to Greenland in December. Landry emphasized that the United States is not seeking conquest: “The United States is not going to ‘go in there trying to conquer anybody.'” He also thanked Trump for giving him “the honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the United States,” according to The Guardian.
A social media post by Katie Miller—the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller—showed an image of Greenland overlaid with a U.S. map and labeled “SOON.” This prompted Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, to respond on X (formerly Twitter): “Just a friendly reminder about the U.S. and Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such.” He added: “And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
