Can Trump Seize Greenland? Political Challenges & Possibilities
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The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with recent comments from the White House have made clear that US president Donald Trump’s ambition to take over Greenland needs to be taken very seriously.European governments are reportedly discussing contingency plans if he makes good on his threats.
A US military attack on the territory of a pleasant European country – effectively the end of the NATO alliance – still seems unlikely, though can’t be ruled out entirely. While there have been proposals to station more troops in Greenland as a deterrent, for now, European governments seem to view that step as unnecessarily escalatory.
A political and economic campaign to pressure Europe into giving up Greenland seems more likely. The best hope of preventing the US from going farther down this road might potentially be just how unpopular the idea is in Greenland itself and in the United States.
No one is laughing about Greenland anymore.
President Donald Trump’s frequently expressed desire for the
US to take possession of the world’s largest island may once have been treated as a lark, troll, or distraction, but following last week’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, it’s become clear that Trump is increasingly acquiring a taste for military action and that he is even less constrained by international norms than previously thought.
“We do need Greenland, absolutely,”
Trump said, shortly after the Maduro raid, describing it as “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.” The White House said on Tuesday that Trumpand his senior advisers are discussing options for how to take over the Danish territory and that
military force is “always an option.”
Copenhagen is taking seriously the possibility that Donald Trump might attempt to buy Greenland again if he wins the US presidential election in November,and is preparing for a range of scenarios,including a potential US military operation to seize the territory.
The danish government has been quietly sounding out allies about what a US attempt to acquire Greenland would trigger, and whether they would support Denmark, according to sources in Copenhagen and Brussels. The concern is not just about a purchase offer, but about Trump perhaps ordering the US military to occupy the island.
“There’s a real fear that Trump would do anything if he felt it was in his interests,” said a European diplomat. “And Greenland is something he’s fixated on.”
Denmark rejected Trump’s initial overtures to buy Greenland in 2019, calling the idea “absurd”. Trump reportedly responded by questioning whether Denmark was a reliable ally. The issue has resurfaced as Trump has begun campaigning for a second term, and he has repeatedly mentioned his desire to own Greenland in recent months, often framing it as a business deal that would benefit both countries.
The Danish foreign ministry has set up a “night watch” to monitor Trump’s activities and social media activity posts while the rest of the country is sleeping.
“I absolutely think there’s the political will to protect Greenland.”
– Rachel Rizzo, senior fellow focused on transatlantic security at the Observer Research Foundation
Early in 2025, when it first became clear Trump wasn’t going to let the issue drop, the French government discussed sending troops to Greenland as a deterrent, though the proposal hasn’t gone anywhere as then. The consensus for now among European governments is that a military build-up to counter the United States would risk further inflaming tensions with Trump while still probably not being enough to hold off a (still hard to imagine) US operation to seize the territory by force.
It’s possible there may be an unrelated issue Europe could cut a deal on in exchange for Trump backing off, such as the Digital services Act, which is strongly opposed by US tech companies and has been harshly criticized by Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and others in Trump’s orbit.
Fix notes that “it’s a fine line to walk, not to appear to be appeasing” Trump. This is one case, she notes, where “appeasing is highly likely to backfire.”
European governments could threaten to sanction US companies or sell off US bonds, but ultimately, notes Rizzo, “Europe doesn’t have that much leverage economically over the United States,” which has already helped Trump in trade talks this term, and is likely the reason he feels emboldened to treat Denmark this way.
The best weapon the Europeans may have for resisting US pressure may be just how unpopular an idea this is in all corners of the Atlantic. Danish rule is a fraught issue in Greenland and all the island’s political parties support eventual independence, albeit on different timelines.But ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish institute for International studies, noted that Trump’s brute-force approach has offended Greenlanders as well, leading to increased coordination between Nuuk, the greenlandic capital, and Copenhagen. The Greenland government has refused to engage in bilateral talks with the Americans without Danish involvement, an opportunity they might have jumped at under other circumstances.
Polls show US control of Greenland is deeply unpopular there. “It has been very tough for the US administ
Yoel Gad’s Criticism of Voters
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Yoel Gad, a political strategist, criticized voters for twice electing a currently unnamed individual, suggesting their judgment is unreliable. This statement, reported by an untrusted source, requires autonomous verification and contextualization.
Background on Yoel Gad
Yoel Gad is a prominent figure in Democratic political strategy, known for his data-driven approach and commentary on electoral trends. He frequently appears in media outlets offering analysis of campaigns and voter behavior. Moe.com provides a profile of Yoel Gad, detailing his experience and expertise.
Verification of the claim & Context (as of 2026/01/08 17:14:22)
The statement lacks specific context regarding the “guy” gad referenced. Without knowing the individual to whom Gad refers, verifying the claim of a two-time election victory is impossible. A search of major news outlets and political databases as of January 8, 2026, does not reveal a widely reported instance of Gad making this exact statement. However,gad has been publicly critical of Donald Trump’s repeated election victories. NBC News reported on Gad’s analysis of polling data during the 2024 election, demonstrating his willingness to publicly assess candidate performance.
Donald Trump’s Electoral History
Donald Trump was elected President of the united States in 2016 and 2020. He received 304 electoral votes in 2016, defeating Hillary Clinton who received 227. The National Archives provides the official 2016 Electoral College vote count. In 2020, Trump received 232 electoral votes to Joe Biden’s 306. The National Archives provides the official 2020 Electoral College vote count. These results confirm Trump’s two election victories.
Implications of Gad’s statement
Gad’s comment, if directed at voters who supported Trump, suggests a perceived lack of discernment or accountability among that electorate. The statement implies that repeated support for a candidate, despite potential concerns, erodes public trust. Political analysts often debate the factors influencing voter loyalty and the role of persuasion in electoral outcomes.