Trump repeats false claims about Greenland security, mocks Danish defenses as 'two dog sleds'

President Trump continued pushing for U.S. acquisition of Greenland during a press conference, repeating debunked claims about Chinese and Russian military forces near the Arctic island and dismissing Danish defenses as consisting of 'two dog sleds.' Security experts and fact-checkers noted that Denmark maintains a specialized naval unit called the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol for reconnaissance, along with F-16 fighter jets, surface patrol ships, and surveillance aircraft. Trump stated the U.S. needs Greenland for national security and would take it 'one way or the other.' Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen reported a 'fundamental disagreement' remained after talks with U.S. officials. The claims about Chinese and Russian destroyers and submarines off Greenland's coast have been repeatedly refuted by NATO officials and Arctic security experts, who note no such military presence exists.

“Their defense consists of two dog sleds. Otherwise Russia and China would move to claim the territory. The US needs Greenland for national security.” — Press conference remarks justifying potential U.S. acquisition of Greenland