Can Trump annex Greenland? What president is saying about the Danish territory

President Donald Trump is returning to his need to annex Greenland after US forces attacked Venezuela and captured its chief.

In a single January 4 interview featured in The Atlantic journal, Trump reiterated his desire to amass Danish territory within the North Atlantic Ocean, describing the island as a nationwide safety want for the US. Nonetheless, his feedback confronted sturdy resistance from Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

Trump’s newest feedback on Greenland got here a day after the US on January 3 military operation throughout which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured and transported to the US on drug fees.

Trump has argued that Greenland is a nationwide safety necessity for the US and has pushed for its annexation since returning to energy in 2025.

Here is what it’s essential to find out about Trump’s feedback about Greenland.

What did Trump say about Greenland?

Within the Jan. 4 interview with The Atlantic journal, Trump mentioned support expressed for the annexation of Greenland. The responses got here a day later American military intervention in Venezuela, which ousted the nation’s chief.

“We completely want Greenland,” Trump mentioned within the interview.

Later the identical day, Trump informed reporters on Air Pressure One which he would revisit the subject of Greenland in “20 days.” It was not instantly clear why he selected that timeframe. The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for a proof of the timing.

Trump has repeatedly instructed that the US ought to annex Greenland due to its strategic location and mineral wealth.

How did Greenland and Denmark reply?

Greenland’s chief issued an announcement on January 4.

“When the president of the US says that ‘we want Greenland’ and hyperlinks us to Venezuela and army intervention, it isn’t solely incorrect. It’s disrespectful,” mentioned Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Denmark too convicted Trump’s need to annex Greenland in a Jan. 4 assertion, Reuters reported.

“There’s completely no level in speaking in regards to the want for the US to take over Greenland. The US has no proper to annex any of the three nations within the Danish kingdom,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned within the assertion.

Why does Trump need Greenland?

Trump has argued that annexing Greenland is a nationwide safety necessity given its massive deposit of essential minerals and its strategic location.

Since taking workplace in 2025, Trump has achieved simply that hovered repeatedly purchased the ice-covered Arctic island from Denmark and has refused to rule out taking the resource-rich nation by army pressure.

Is Greenland a part of Denmark?

Sure, Greenland, a North American island east of Canada, is a Danish territory with restricted self-government.

Can Trump annex Greenland?

The Trump administration might purchase Greenland from Denmark, though a sale is unlikely resulting from Danish and Greenlandic opposition. In mild of this, US makes an attempt at annexation might put the 2 NATO allies at odds.

USA TODAY and Reuters contributed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.