Staff Reports
In a display of colorful diplomacy that only Donald Trump could deliver, the former president threw down the gauntlet regarding Greenland during a recent address to Congress. He was adamant that, come hell or high water, Greenlanders will eventually be Americans. The grandiosity of his statement could make a parenthesis in a middle-school history essay seem tame by comparison.
Trump commenced with a respectful nod to the people of Greenland, acknowledging their right to forge their own path. Naturally, he followed this with the promise of a warm welcome should they decide to join the U.S.—almost as if kinship and shared barbecue traditions would seal the deal. In a moment of classic Trump embellishment, he added an ad-libbed line that left jaws on the floor, stating, without ambiguity, that “one way or the other, we’re going to get it.” It’s clear that subtlety and restraint are not language options in Trump’s political arsenal.
New @POTUS language on Greenland: "We strongly represent your right to determine your own future. And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America." But then adds, "One way or another, we're going to get it."
— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) March 5, 2025
In his first term, when Trump first floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, he was met with a torrent of hysterical derision from the left. Yet, undeterred and keenly aware of individual opportunities, Trump has reignited his interest during this second stint in the office. The potential for harnessing Greenland’s bountiful natural resources—everything from precious minerals to energy—seems to excite him. After all, who wouldn’t want to turn the icy expanse into a booming economic entity for its people?
Strategic interest runs deep in Trump’s foreign policy playbook; Greenland isn’t just about luxury real estate and polar bears. Serious analysts note that Trump’s fixation on Greenland aligns with his attention to other global hot spots, such as South Africa and Gaza. Both locations hold significant importance for shipping routes and military navigation. It appears that Trump sees international geography as a game of chess and is determined to make his next strategic moves count.
Greenland, on its part, insists on exercising its right to self-determination. Meanwhile, Denmark, which currently has control, has already brushed off Trump’s dreams like dust from an old photo frame. Still, Trump seems unshaken. He operates under the belief that every location and every nation has its price, and he is prepared to go hunting for it. The audacity—if nothing else—provides endless entertainment for those watching from the sidelines as the world spins round and round in this geopolitical merry-go-round.
