Trump’s Proposal to make Greenland the “Red, White and Blueland”

United States President Donald Trump first expressed interest in purchasing Greenland in 2019, during his first term, but he did not succeed. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and officials in both Greenland and Denmark rejected the idea. The US already has a military presence in Greenland at the Thule Air Base which is operated by the US Space Force in cooperation with Denmark.

In 2024, Trump reintroduced the idea of buying and controlling Greenland for national security purposes. He believes that Greenlanders “want to be with us,” despite their reassurances that they do not wish to become a conquest of the United States.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen has said that Greenland is “not for sale.”

Greenland has been a part of the Kingdom of Denmark for 800 years, but Trump said he “[doesn’t] really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn’t allow that to happen.”

Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, reiterated that sentiment and added, “let me put it into words you might understand: Mr. Trump, f*** off.”

Vistisen told POLITICO “There is clearly a need for more adults in the room when the US Administration formulates foreign policy. If these people can’t see how absurd they appear, they are out of touch with reality.”

The Trump administration believes that the island is a strategic location for the US to expand its military presence to protect against foreign threats. They also understand that Greenland has vast natural resources that have immense potential. There are Rare Earth Elements that are needed for electronics and the defense industry; Uranium deposits that could be used for nuclear energy; Iron ore used for steel; Lead, zinc, gold, platinum, rubies, and even sapphires. Greenland has oil and gas reserves offshore, and the rivers create hydropower which has potential benefits.

Trump has expressed his desires for, or “joked” about, annexing various other countries including Canada, the Panama Canal, Mexico, and Gaza.

Legislation was introduced to the US House of Representatives to acquire Greenland on January 13, 2025, named the “Make Greenland Great Again Act.” On February 10, 2025, another bill was introduced to the House called the “Red, White and Blueland Act.”

Republican representative from Georgia, Earl “Buddy” Carter, introduced the “Red, White and Blueland Act,” stating that “America is back and will soon be bigger than ever. . . we will proudly welcome [Greenland’s] people to join the freest nation to ever exist.”

This idea to buy Greenland in pursuit of colonial expansion has been criticized by folks domestically and internationally because colonialism is not favorable.