President Trump escalated his pressure campaign on Denmark Friday, making it clear he is prepared to use tariffs as leverage to secure U.S. control of Greenland. Speaking at the White House, President Trump said he may impose trade penalties on countries that refuse to support the acquisition, arguing that Greenland is indispensable to American national security.
“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” President Trump said. It was classic Trump, blunt, transactional, and unapologetic. He did not specify which countries would be targeted or how the tariffs would be structured, but the message was unmistakable. The United States is done asking politely.
President Trump has long viewed tariffs as a legitimate and effective foreign policy tool, and his record backs that up. From China to NATO allies, he has repeatedly used economic pressure to force negotiations that previous administrations never even attempted. Greenland is simply the latest, and arguably most consequential, example. With China and Russia expanding their Arctic ambitions, Trump has framed Greenland as a strategic necessity rather than a diplomatic luxury.
European leaders reacted predictably, with a mix of panic and posturing. French President Emmanuel Macron announced troop deployments to Greenland under the banner of “Operation Arctic Endurance,” joined by Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway. These moves came despite the fact that the United States already operates a major military base on the island and has been the primary guarantor of Arctic security for decades.
Denmark’s leadership has been equally defiant. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen admitted after meetings in Washington with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that nothing had changed. “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering Greenland,” Rasmussen said, apparently shocked that Trump actually means what he says.
Trump has been candid about the options on the table. He prefers to buy Greenland and has reportedly floated financial incentives as high as $100,000 per resident for the island’s roughly 57,000 people. But he has also refused to rule out harder measures if diplomacy stalls. On January 9, President Trump said the United States would acquire Greenland “whether they like it or not,” warning that inaction would invite Chinese or Russian influence.
“Countries have to have ownership,” Trump said. “You defend ownership, you don’t defend leases.” That line cuts to the heart of his argument. America should not gamble its security on temporary agreements while rivals play the long game.
Danish and Greenlandic officials continue to reject the idea. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said this week that if forced to choose, Greenland would choose Denmark. President Trump, however, is clearly preparing to force the issue.
If the acquisition happens, it would mark the largest territorial expansion in U.S. history. More importantly, it would signal that America is once again serious about defending its strategic future, even when allies complain.
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