Could Donald Trump Actually Buy Greenland? Experts Weigh in on Cost and Possibility

What’s New

President-elect Donald Trump is once again suggesting that the U.S. buy Greenland, an autonomous territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years. And once again, experts are explaining why it’s not possible for Trump to carry out what he sees as an “absolute necessity” for America.

“Here we go again,” Malte Humpert, a senior fellow at the Arctic Institute and its founder, told Newsweek on Monday. “This idea remains as ludicrous as it was in 2019.”

Why This Matters

Greenland has access to the Arctic, where an international competition has arisen in recent years as nations race to claim northern territory in hopes of accessing natural resources abundant in the region, like gold, silver, copper and uranium.

The U.S. has tried to acquire Greenland four times in the past, with the most recent attempt in 2019, when Trump first brought up the idea.

In recent weeks, Trump has also suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and has referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”

Which Country Owns Greenland?

Greenland, which is home to 56,000 residents, has been part of Denmark since the 18th century but was granted home rule in 1979 and has been a self-governed nation since 2009. Still, Denmark contributes two-thirds of Greenland’s budget, and its association with the world’s largest island that’s not a continent has allowed Greenland to receive funding from the European Union.

Although the island is self-ruled, it is home to a large U.S. military base.

Besides Trump, Democrats have proposed buying Greenland. President Harry Truman offered to purchase it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold.

What To Know

While announcing Sunday that he had selected PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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.”

Marc Jacobsen, who researches and advises on Arctic security politics and diplomacy, told Newsweek, “While Trump’s rhetoric and choice of words is ‘one of a kind,’ his interest in Greenland echoes the U.S.’s historic interest focusing on geostrategic location and mineral wealth.

He went on: “The worsened relations to China, Russia and others intensify Greenland’s geostrategic importance at the moment, while Greenland’s vast deposits of rare earth elements are extra interesting due to their potential use in modern technologies.”

Jacobsen, who is also an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, said it’s worth noting Greenland’s reactions to Trump’s purchase idea. While it was seen as “neocolonial provocation” in 2019, this time it has been viewed as “an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties between Greenland and the U.S.,” Jacobsen said.

“Following the 2019 idea—and the amplified American attention toward the Arctic—Greenland experienced enhanced agency in international politics,” he said. “This is important for Greenland in its strive toward independence. Today, several Greenlandic politicians state that of course Greenland is not for sale, but they are very interested in strengthening ties with the U.S., especially in ways that can improve the Greenlandic economy.”

What Has Trump Said About Greenland?

In 2019, Trump told reporters, “We’re very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world. So the concept came up and I said, ‘Certainly I’d be.’ Strategically, it’s interesting and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit. It’s not No. 1 on the burner, I can tell you that.

“Essentially, it’s a large real estate deal. A lot of things can be done,” he said about a Greenland purchase.

After his comments were widely criticized by Danish officials, Trump announced he was canceling his scheduled meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called Trump’s suggestion “an absurd discussion.”

What People Are Saying

Humpert told Newsweek: “Rather than focusing on grandiose and unrealistic plans to buy sovereign territories, the incoming Trump administration should direct its focus to help the U.S. strengthen its Arctic presence by finally sufficiently funding the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker program and removing hurdles to acquire foreign-built icebreakers.”

Howery wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I know first-hand the power of diplomacy to advance American interests and strengthen alliances, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Europe to promote the President’s agenda. I look forward to working with the dedicated teams at U.S. Embassy Copenhagen and U.S. Consulate Nuuk in Greenland to deepen the bonds between our countries.”

Republicans Against Trump posted on X: “Donald Trump suggested taking ownership of Greenland as he announced Ken Howery as his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark. Trump isn’t even in office yet, and we’re already becoming the laughingstock of the world.”

What’s Next

Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, responded to Trump’s remarks on Monday, saying in a statement, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we will never be for sale. We must not lose our long fight for freedom.”

What Has Trump Said About the Panama Canal?

In separate remarks made earlier in the weekend, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships or risk having the U.S. regain control of the Panama Canal. The Central American country was given ownership of the canal in 1999 following a treaty signed in 1979.

“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question,” Trump wrote in a series of lengthy Truth Social posts on Saturday.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino hit back at Trump’s comments, saying, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be.”