Canada as America’s 51st state?
President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t been officially sworn in as the 47th president and he’s already been stirring the waters around the world.
Most of the reasons to buy Greenland boil down to two: national security and resources.
Should the U.S. buy Greenland? Could it? Here’s a look at Trump’s reasoning for buying Greenland, but first …
When is Inauguration Day?
Trump will take the oath of office at the Capitol Monday, Jan. 20.
Both Carrie Underwood and the Village People are slated to perform.
➤ Carrie Underwood, Village People to perform at Trump’s inauguration. See schedule, how to watch
Activities planned in Washington, D.C., prior to the actual inauguration include an event Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Capital One Arena, where Trump will host a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally.”
Why does Trump want Greenland?
Trump is wants geopolitical supremacy to prevent expansion by China and Russia, two former top Trump national security aides told USA TODAY.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I’m talking about protecting the free world. You don’t even need binoculars,” Trump said. “You look outside. You have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We’re not letting that happen.”
Russia, China threats and the Northwest Passage
Having more control of Greenland would enable Washington to better protect its interests in the region — including critically important shipping lanes — against expansionist efforts by Russia and, more recently, China, Trump has said.
China has become increasingly aggressive in the region as climate change reduces much of the impenetrable Arctic Circle ice to water, said John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019. That makes the mythical Northwest Passage — a shorter shipping route between North America, Europe and Asia sought by explorers for 300 years — now a reality.
“So who holds that defensive capability across the Arctic Circle is critical,” Bolton said, “especially with global warming making the famous Northwest Passage now something that’s real, and with China’s interest in becoming a global power.
Does Greenland have natural resources?
The country is thought to be rich in minerals and oil.
“It’s never been explored. People thought it was covered with ice. But as the ice melts, just like the Russian tundra, who knows what’s under there?” Bolton said.
In his first administration, Trump officials believed Greenland could have critically important rare-earth resources that could be accessed as ice melted.
Recovering them would make the U.S. far less reliant on China, which has much of the world’s stores of such materials used in computers, cellphones and other high-tech devices, according to Bolton and a second former Trump administration official, Charles Kupperman.
Trump not the first president to eye Greenland
Even during his first term in office, Trump expressed desire for U.S. control or ownership of Greenland and he wasn’t the first president to do so.
“Trump didn’t discover Greenland,” Bolton said. “The U.S. has been worried about it for a long time.”
President Harry Truman offered $100 million in gold bullion for the world’s largest island in the post-World War II era.
Who does Greenland belong to?
Greenland is a territory of Denmark, and has been part of the Danish crown since 1830, although there is a movement to establish its independence.
As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland has its own legislature, known as the Inatsisartut, with 31 seats. It administers various internal affairs. Greenland’s defense, national security and financial policies remain the responsibility of Denmark and the Folketing.
For the U.S. to buy Greenland, it would have to be approved by Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made it very clear in December Greenland is not for sale.
‘Not for sale’: What was Greenland’s response to Trump’s announcement?
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” the island’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said in December.
A “crisis meeting” was held Jan. 9 in Copenhagen about Trump’s Greenland pitch with party leaders from across Denmark’s political spectrum.
Some people in Greenland are a little startled by all the attention we’re getting globally,” said Aaja Chemnitz, one of two Greenlandic lawmakers who represents Greenland in Denmark’s Folketing, its parliament.
“A close dialogue between Greenland and Denmark is important right now. It’s also important to be very calm and think about how we can make a wise decision.
“It’s not a question of whether we should be Danish citizens or American citizens. It’s a question of how can we be Greenlanders and have a good Greenlandic future.”
Even in 2019, when Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland, the idea was quickly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland.
“We are open for business, but we’re not for sale,” wrote Greenland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2019. in a tweet soon after.
“I would say some Greenlanders are a bit concerned and scared about this,” said Christian Ulloriaq Jeppesen, a radio producer from Nuuk, Greenland, who lives in Denmark.
“It’s also a little bit of a joke. It’s weird. I’m personally quite mad about the whole idea that someone thinks they can just buy a country.”
Independence from Denmark?
Polls over the past few decades have consistently shown the majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark for reasons connected to its dark colonial past and persistent discrimination, though there is division over the timing of it and concern over what it could mean for living conditions, according to Ulrik Pram Gad, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen.
In a New Year’s speech, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said it was “about time we ourselves take a step and shape our future, also with regard to who we will cooperate closely with, and who our trading partners will be.”
Greenland population?
The majority of Greenlanders are Inuit, an indigenous people who also live in Alaska and Canada.
In comparison, here are 2024 populations of some Florida cities, according to worldpopulationreview:
- Jacksonville: 997,164
- Miami: 460,289
- Port St. Lucie: 257,756
- Tallahassee: 203,650
- West Palm Beach: 126,337
- Fort Myers: 100,736
- Melbourne: 87,591
- Daytona Beach: 85,887
- Palm Beach Gardens: 61,782
- Winter Haven: 59,270
- Sarasota: 58,406
- Pensacola: 53,473
How big is Greenland compared to US, Florida?
Greenland covers nearly 840,000 square miles.
The U.S. has a total area of 3,809,525 square miles, according to the U.S. Census.
Florida has 65,758 square miles, according to the Florida Department of State.
Where is Greenland?
Four NATO countries — the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway — have territorial claims that cover half of the Arctic Circle, Bolton said. “Russia covers the rest.”
Looking at the Earth from above provides a better view of how close countries are around the North Pole than a flat map view.
How far is Nuuk, Greenland, from these US cities?
Nuuk, located on Greenland’s western coast, is the country’s capital and largest city. It’s 1,783 miles from the North Pole. Here’s how far it is from:
- Washington, D.C.: 2,028 miles
- Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach: 2,845 miles
- Closest U.S. city: Caribou, Maine 1,346 miles
- Point Barrow, Alaska: 3,074 miles, over the North Pole
What’s the temperature in Nuuk, Greenland?
The temperature in Nuuk Tuesday morning was 12 degrees, with a wind chill of -8, according to AccuWeather.com.
Snow is in the forecast starting Wednesday, with 1 to 3 inches, and 6-10 inches expected Thursday.
Can you fly to Nuuk, Greenland? How much does it cost?
Traveling by plane via Iceland or Denmark is the most popular way to get to Nuuk from the U.S., according to Icelandair.
Costs on Icelandair range from $953 from New York to $1,884 from Orlando.
United Airlines will launch the first direct flight to Nuuk this summer, offering twice-weekly service from June to September, the company announced in October 2024.
Non-stop lights will begin June 15, 2025, from Newark Liberty International Airport, EWR, to Nuuk International Airport, GOH. Flights will leave EWR on Wednesdays and Sundays. Flights will leave GOH on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
‘Top of the World’: Are there any US military bases on Greenland?
Yes. Pituffik Space Base is the Department of Defense’s northmost installation, and is located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
Formerly known as Thule Air Base, Pituffik — an Inuit name — was renamed in April 2023 “to better reflect the culture of the region, as well as its affiliation with the Space Force, according to military.com.
“This renaming represents our wish to celebrate and acknowledge the rich cultural heritage of Greenland and its people and how important they are to the sustainment of this installation against the harsh environment north of the Arctic Circle,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said.
The base is locked in by ice nine months of the year, but the airfield is operational year round. It’s operated by the 821st Space Base Group and part of Space Base Delta 1.
➤ Pituffik Space Base one of most remote US military assignments
“Pituffik SB exists today due to agreements between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, specifically addressing mutual defense,” according to the base’s website.
“Strategically, Pituffik SB’s “Top of the World” vantage point enables Space Superiority.”
The base’s name is pronounced bee-doo-FEEK.
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributors: Victor Hagan, Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today Network