President Donald Trump gave a two-word explanation for why the U.S. needed Greenland during an Oval Office back-and-forth on Friday.
Trump said the U.S. needed to acquire Greenland for ‘world peace,’ the president said, amid Vice President J.D. Vance‘s day trip to the Danish territory.
Vance and his wife Usha are visiting the Pituffik Space Base, after the second lady’s plan to watch a dog-sledding race got scrapped.
‘We need Greenland,’ Trump said. ‘Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of, “Do you think we can do without it?” We can’t.’
Danish leaders have repeatedly said that Greenland isn’t for sale, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen saying the United States needed to respect the territory’s sovereignty.
‘If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that. We’re not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation,’ Trump said.
‘And we’re not talking about peace for the United States. We’re talking about world peace,’ he continued. ‘We’re talking about international security. And right now you look at it, you have warships all over the place going through right along Greenland.’
He said the United States was ‘not going to let that happen.’
President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. needed to acquire Greenland, which is a territory of NATO ally Denmark, in order to achieve ‘world peace’
Vice President J.D. Vance took a day trip to the Danish territory on Friday, visiting Pituffik Space Base with his wife Usha
‘Or if it’s going to happen, we have to be protective of our country. And more important, really, protection, not only for our country, of the world,’ the president continued.
He said Greenland was ‘very important in modern day weaponry’ moreso than 100 years ago.
Part of the reason is due to climate change, which has made traversing the Arctic easier.
Trump pointed out that there are now more ‘water roadways.’
‘Some of those areas are opening up and they’re opening up – ice breakers out there – they’re opening up and by just nature, they’re opening up and they’re headed right into China, right into Russia,’ the president said.
‘And we have no choice,’ he reiterated.
The president’s infatuation with acquiring Greenland from Denmark started back in his first term – but began again during the 2024 transition.
During that time period, Donald Trump Jr. made a trip to the island – the world’s largest.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Usha Vance made a day trip to Greenland on Friday. Houses are photographed in the town of Nuuk, Greenland
His visit was considered one being made by a private citizen and he didn’t meet with any members of the government while there.
The Vances’ trip is being made in the official capacity.
‘The answer is, he’s there with his beautiful wife, Usha. They’re there right now,’ Trump said about the trip. ‘They landed a couple of hours ago and they will represent us well.’
He had been asked if the U.S. planned to bolster its military presence on the island.
‘But Greenland is very important for the peace of the world, not us, the peace of the entire world,’ Trump said. ‘And I think Denmark understands it. I think the European Union understands it. And if they don’t, we’re going to have to explain it to them.’
