It’s a throwback to old-school imperialism: The king sending the prince to scope out a potential territorial conquest.
In his first term, Donald Trump talked a lot about wanting the United States to take over Greenland, although Denmark showed no interest in selling the territory and the idea sort of died on the vine. But with Trump about to return to office, he’s revived the American Greenland idea, along with repeating taunts about wanting to make Canada America’s 51st State.
This week, Donald Trump, Jr., is visiting Greenland, with Charlie Kirk joining him.
Per CNN, the younger Trump arrived in the territory on Tuesday, posting video to X of himself on a plane about to land in Greenland, illustrated with a bobblehead of his father dressed as the Terminator:
Greenland coming in hot… well, actually, really really cold!!!! pic.twitter.com/IhLKVOfYVM
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 7, 2025
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In a Truth Social post the same day, the President-elect blessed the trip, declaring that “Don Jr. and my Reps 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!”
Also on Tuesday, Trump called into his son’s visit, praising Greenland as “a very special place” and “so strategically located.”
JUST IN: Trump calls into Trump Jr.’s visit to Greenland, makes the argument for why the country should join American territory.
“You’re so strategically located.”
The Greenlandic people are LOVING it.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 7, 2025
The trip, which appears to have the impremateur of the incoming president, indicates that Trump is to some degree serious about wanting to make Greenland part of the United States. Even so, Denmark’s government remains adamant that Greenland is not for sale.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared this week, per Politico, that “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 had rejected Trump’s attempts to purchase the territory the first around as well.
“On one hand, I am really happy regarding the rise in American interest in Greenland,” the prime minister said in a TV interview this week. “But of course it is important that it takes place in a way where it is the Greenlanders’ decision, what their future holds.”
While Greenland is a Danish territory, it has been self-ruling since 1979. Denmark, per Politico, controls the island’s foreign and defense policy, although Greenland has autonomy on other matters. Greenland does have an independence movement.
“I can notice a strong wish amongst many Greenlanders to move toward independence,” Frederiksen said in the TV interview. “It is legitimate, and therefore, I think that it is important that Greenland’s future is shaped in… Nuuk.”
Featured image via screengrab
