The last time the United States purchased land from Denmark, the sale included Jeffrey Epstein’s future notorious island — which has since been dubbed “Epstein Island” and “Pedophile Island.”
The 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies saw what is now known as the US Virgin Islands bought by the United States for $25 million (roughly $633 million today), in exchange for, in part, accepting Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
Among around 60 islands and rocks included in that sale, one, Little Saint James, would become infamous after it was bought by pedophile financier Epstein.
The 70-acre island was bought by Epstein in 1998 and became his primary residence, playing host to many of his underage sex parties.
Since the convicted sex offender’s death in 2019, the island is more commonly known as Epstein Island.
Here’s the latest on Trump’s negotiations with Greenland
“Reminder: In 1917, the US officially gave up its claims to Greenland just to secure the Danish West Indies. We traded 836,000 square miles of strategic Arctic land for a handful of islands, one of which became Epstein Island. This is why we are talking about buying it back in 2026,” one X user wrote.
“We already paid for this in 1917 when we took the Virgin Islands off Denmark’s hands. We got the raw end of the deal (Little St James). It’s time to settle the tab,” another user added.
“The 1917 deal was a disaster. Denmark used the US desire for the Virgin Islands to force us to recognize their ‘sovereignty’ over Greenland. Now we’re stuck with the legacy of Little Saint James while China/Russia eye the Arctic. Buy it now or lose it forever,” added a third.
It comes as President Trump said Tuesday there was “no going back” on his plan for Greenland, calling the island “imperative for national and world security.”
He has warned the European powers that they face stinging tariffs if they oppose his purchase of Greenland.
