Trump Demands U.S. Control of Greenland, Cites Russian and Chinese Threats as Justification

At a press conference, President Trump intensified his push for U.S. control of Greenland, arguing it is essential for national security against Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic. He stated the U.S. must obtain Greenland "including right, title and ownership" and suggested it could happen "by the easy way or the hard way," though he later said he would not use force. Trump urged NATO not to block U.S. expansionism and threatened tariffs on Denmark and other European nations before reversing course when NATO agreed to a "framework" for future Arctic discussions. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Múte Egede firmly rejected any takeover, with Egede stating "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale." Frederiksen warned that threats against NATO territory constitute coercion and undermine alliance unity. The U.S. already maintains Thule Air Base in Greenland, a strategic military installation.

"The U.S. needs Greenland for national security and to counter threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region... it could happen by the easy way or the hard way." — Press conference remarks on January 15, 2026, where Trump escalated his demands for U.S. control of Greenland while simultaneously threatening and then reversing tariff threats against European allies.