President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, first became publicly known in 2019, but was dismissed as absurd by Denmark's leader President Donald Trump's interest in a U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, first became publicly known in 2019. Here's a timeline of events that led to a crisis between Washington and its European allies. Aug., 2019: During his first term, Trump expresses interest in buying Greenland for the U.S., but says it's “not No. 1 on the burner.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismisses it as “an absurd discussion.” Trump then says he canceled a trip to Denmark because Frederiksen made a “nasty” statement in rejecting his idea.
Dec. 22, 2024: Weeks before his second term begins, President-elect Trump renews his interest, declaring that “the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Greenland's prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, says that "we are not for sale and will never be for sale.” Jan. 7, 2025: Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., visits Greenland. The president-elect says he won't rule out using military force to take control of Greenland. March 11, 2025: Greenlanders elect a new parliament in a vote that produces a win for the Demokraatit party of Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Shortly afterward, all five parties in the legislature reject Trump's talk of the U.S. taking control. March 27, 2025: Four of the five parties in Greenland's parliament agree to form a coalition government with Nielsen as prime minister. March 28, 2025: Vice President JD Vance visits the U.S.
Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland and accuses Denmark of underinvesting in the island's security. March 29, 2025: Denmark's foreign minister scolds the U.S. for the tone of its criticism. Trump says he never takes “military force off the table.” Aug. 27, 2025: Denmark's Foreign Ministry summons the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen after a Danish broadcaster reports that at least three people with connections to Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland.
Dec. 21, 2025: Trump announces that he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland. Landry says it's an honor to serve in the position “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” Dec. 22, 2025: The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insist that the U.S. won’t take over Greenland.
The Danish foreign minister says he's summoning the U.S. ambassador. Jan. 4, 2026: Talk of a U.S. takeover of Greenland flares up again after the U.S. ousts Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela. Jan. 5, 2026: Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen says an American military takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of NATO.
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