President-elect Donald Trump said he wants the US to own and control Greenland — a desire he made known during his first presidential term — as he announced his pick for US ambassador to Denmark on Sunday.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
His comments on Greenland came in the same statement Trump used to announce he has selected PayPal co-founder Ken Howery for the ambassadorship to Denmark.
“Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States,” he said.
Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland came shortly after he demanded Panama return ownership and control of the Panama Canal to the US, which the country’s president vehemently stood against.
Trump previously indicated that he wanted to purchase Greenland back in 2019. At the time, he was mostly drawn to the country’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance.
Leaders in Denmark were not jazzed about the president’s insistence. The island has autonomous self-rule but is still within the Kingdom of Denmark.
“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a visit to Greenland in 2019.
Trump was frustrated by Frederiksen’s rebuttal and even canceled a meeting with her because of her comments on the proposed deal’s absurdity.
The plan to purchase Greenland fizzled out with Trump’s term and was totally abandoned by President Joe Biden’s administration, but now Trump seems intent on reviving his project after he takes back the Oval Office.
