Aboard Air Force One – President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States would take Greenland “one way or the other,” warning that Russia and China would “take over” if Washington didn’t act.
Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats over the island, which plays a strategic role between North America and the Arctic, and where the United States has had a military base since World War II.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump says the US WILL take Greenland, we are RE-CLAIMING the Western Hemisphere
“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will. And I’m not letting that happen!”
“One way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland!” 🇺🇸🇬🇱
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 12, 2026
A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule 26 years later and is contemplating eventually loosening its ties with Denmark.
The vast majority of its population and political parties have said they do not want to be under US control and insist Greenlanders must decide their own future — a viewpoint continuously challenged by Trump.
“Greenland should make the deal, because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over,” Trump warned, as he mocked its defenses.
“You know what their defense is, two dog sleds,” he said, while Russia and China have “destroyers and submarines all over the place.”
Denmark’s prime minister warned last week that any US move to take Greenland by force would destroy 80 years of transatlantic security links.
Trump waved off the comment saying: “If it affects NATO, it affects NATO. But you know, (Greenland) need us much more than we need them.”
trump on Greenland: “whether they like it or not… If we don’t do it the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way.”
Again, forcing himself on someone who has already said no. He’s not beating those rape allegations.pic.twitter.com/9agM6al4NF
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) January 11, 2026
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Source: AFP
