Trump made the comments in a January 7, 2026, interview with The New York Times, where he emphasised that simply having a military presence on the island is not enough for him.
Trump argued that owning Greenland outright would provide strategic and psychological advantages that cannot be achieved through existing agreements or leases. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with significant self‑government, already hosts a U.S. military presence under a Cold War‑era defence agreement, but Trump said that 'ownership gives you a thing that you can't do' through those arrangements.
When asked by a New York Times reporter whether it was psychologically important to him personally or to the United States as a whole, Trump responded without hesitation that it was 'psychologically important for me.' He added, 'Maybe another president would feel differently, but so far I've been right about everything.'
In the interview, Trump also hinted that he would be willing to consider using military force if necessary to acquire the Arctic territory, though he acknowledged that such action 'might upset NATO,' since Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member.
The idea of owning Greenland has drawn widespread criticism from both allies and experts. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated Denmark's commitment to Greenland's sovereignty and self‑determination, and many European leaders have rejected the notion of a U.S. takeover.
Greenland's own government has strongly rebuffed Trump's comments, insisting that decisions about the territory's future belong to Greenlanders and Denmark under international law. EU officials have warned that any attempt by the United States to take over by force could jeopardise the future of NATO, as the alliance would be obligated to defend a fellow member state.
China has also criticised Trump's stance, calling it self‑serving, and military analysts have dismissed the idea that ownership is necessary for defence, noting that the U.S. already maintains extensive global military partnerships without controlling foreign territory.
Trump's remarks come amid rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where strategic resources and new shipping routes are attracting attention from major powers including Russia and China. As debates over Greenland's future continue, Trump's comments have added a controversial chapter to U.S. foreign policy discussions.
Rania Umutoni
