2:44President Donald Trump attends a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
On Friday, President Donald Trump reiterated his push for U.S. dominance over Greenland, informing reporters: "We are going to act on Greenland whether they approve or not."
"If we don’t take action, Russia or China will seize Greenland, and we cannot allow Russia or China to be our neighbors," Trump stated while hosting oil executives at the White House to discuss investments in Venezuela.
The president has consistently expressed his desire to acquire Greenland, whether through purchase or military intervention, emphasizing its importance to national security despite strong opposition from Greenland, Denmark, and European allies.
"Greenland is not for sale. Our Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and our Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt have made that abundantly clear. Our nation belongs to the Greenlandic people," Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s representative in the United States, told reporters on Thursday following a private meeting with members of Congress.
When asked on Friday how much he thought it would cost to persuade Greenland to accept his proposal, Trump replied, "I’m not discussing financial matters regarding Greenland yet. I might bring that up later."
"I would prefer to make a deal, you know, the simple way. However, if we cannot proceed the simple way, we will resort to the difficult way," Trump stated.
President Donald Trump attends a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Prominent Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have also dampened Trump’s aspirations to obtain Greenland.
"It has been clearly communicated by our Danish allies and our friends in Greenland that their future does not involve negotiations. They are not willing to discuss the sale or transfer of their territory, which they have possessed for so long," Sen. Roger Wicker, the leading Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, remarked after meeting with Isbosethsen and Denmark’s Ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, on Thursday.
"There is no justification for a negotiation regarding who governs Greenland, as Greenland, the United States, and Denmark have been allies. We share common values and have collaborated effectively," Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated after the meeting.
Houses covered by snow are seen on the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, March 7, 2025. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP, Files
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key ally of Trump, notably dismissed any suggestion that the U.S. would resort to military measures to gain Greenland.
"I don’t think anyone is seriously contemplating that. In Congress, we certainly are not," Johnson stated during a news conference on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Vice President JD Vance on Thursday urged taking Trump at his word regarding the issue and supported the administration’s interest in the territory.
"My advice to European leaders and anyone else would be to take the president of the United States seriously," Vance told reporters at a press briefing with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
"First, Greenland is crucial, not just for America’s missile defense, but for the world’s missile defense. Second, we are aware that there are hostile adversaries that have shown significant interest in that specific territory, that particular part of the world," Vance remarked.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com