On Jan. 7, Donald Trump Jr. landed in Greenland on behalf of his father, President-elect Donald Trump. During his first presidency in 2019, Trump expressed a strong desire to purchase Greenland, and his desire for this land acquisition is being echoed in his second term.
“Don Jr. and my Reps are landing in Greenland. 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!” President-elect Trump wrote.
Greenland’s government announced in a statement that Trump Jr.’s visit was not an official visit, instead, it was his acting as a private individual. Trump Jr. did not meet with official Greenlandic representatives during his visit. Despite a non-official reception, speculation looms large over the purpose of the visit.
“Greenland loves America and Trump!!! Incredible people with an equally awesome reception. They just want to be able to utilize some of the incredible resources that they have and allow themselves, their country, and their kids to flourish,” Trump Jr. wrote in a post on X.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory, meaning it has its own elected government, yet is still a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Situated in proximity to the U.S., Russia and Europe, Trump has claimed that Greenland has a strategic defense purpose due to its geography.
Besides for reasons of U.S. security, Greenland also has plentiful natural resources. Oil, natural gas and minerals are highly sought after in the nation.
At a press conference held on the same day of his son’s visit, Trump was asked whether he would rule out military or economic coercion to gain Greenland.
“No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security,” Trump said.
Following this statement, opposition voiced concerns over Trump’s actions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) challenged Trump and his “obsession” over Greenland.
“What about the November presidential election had anything to do with invading Greenland or seizing it by force? I’m confused by the obsession around these comments,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries emphasized the challenges of working-class Americans and the obscurity of fixating on Greenland.
“For far too long, the size of the middle class in this country has gone down, but the cost of living has gone up. That’s a problem. The problem is not Greenland … It’s making sure that the American Dream is brought to life for everyone in this nation,” Jeffries said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also expressed concerns over Trump’s interest in Greenland.
“There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either,” Frederiksen said.
Although Trump has not officially taken office yet, political plays are in the works as illustrated through Greenland. Come Jan. 20, Trump will mark his first day as president, backed by a majority of Republicans in both the House and the Senate. It’s unclear how the situation of Greenland will develop, yet with a recent visit of his son, the situation has taken the spotlight.
