President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Greenlanders Tuesday on speakerphone about the island’s need for “security” amid his plan to make the island US territory.
“I just want to say its a very special place. It needs security for itself but it also needs security very much for the world,” the incoming president said on the phone during his son Donald Trump Jr.’s trip to the Arctic island.
During a press conference Tuesday, Trump also said he would not rule out using “military force” to make Greenland a US territory.
Trump, 78, said on the call that there are “not the right ships” sailing around Greenland — likely referring to China’s interest in the Arctic region — which Trump said is “strategically located.”
“Yes!” one Greenlander shouted in response to Trump’s remarks about security.
Greenland is an autonomous island part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the prime ministers from both countries have stressed that the island is not for sale.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated during Don Jr.’s trip that the island is not on the market, but did say the US should “a large role in that region, and not, for example, Russia.”
The firm statements from Greenland and Denmark haven’t stopped the once-and-future president from insisting the US needs to acquire Greenland.
“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social as his son landed on the island.
“The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
“If the people of Greenland want to be part of America, which I hope they do, they would be most welcome!” Elon Musk, Trump’s confidant and Department of Government Efficiency chair, wrote on X.
Don Jr. visited Greenland with a crew of Trump staffers, including Sergio Gor, the incoming director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, and James Blair, incoming deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs.
The visit was purely for his own purposes and was intended to to just be for shooting podcast material, a source familiar told The Post before the trip.
He was seen touring the capital of Nuuk, remarking on the history of the island.
Greenland has attracted global attention from Russia and China due to its strategic location in the Arctic and its large supply of minerals. It is the world’s largest island, and it would be the largest land buy in US history, surpassing the Louisiana Purchase, if Trump did buy the land.