During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, President Donald Trump once again expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark a move widely criticized and considered unpopular.

Speaking to fellow world leaders, Trump framed the acquisition as a matter of U.S. national security. He described Greenland as “vast, almost uninhabited and undeveloped,” emphasizing its strategic importance rather than any economic value, stating, “There is no such thing as rare earth materials in Greenland. What matters is strategic national security and international security.”

The discussion resurfaced on February 26 during Fox News’ Mornings with Maria, where host Maria Bartiromo and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker addressed the topic. Bartiromo highlighted the lag in NATO’s Arctic capabilities, including icebreakers, and questioned whether Greenland was still on the administration’s agenda. Whitaker responded that Greenland remains critical for North American security and noted that a high-level working group involving the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland is negotiating to address related concerns.

The president also mentioned that he initially considered not bringing up Greenland but feared negative criticism. He stressed that he holds “tremendous respect” for the people of Greenland and Denmark, but maintained that the territory is vital to U.S. interests. Following his remarks, Trump even threatened potential tariffs to advance U.S. access to Greenland, suggesting a “framework of a future deal” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. While details are unclear, reports indicate the plan likely centers on expanding U.S. military presence and securing access to Greenland’s strategic resources rather than purchasing the territory outright.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the Danish government have repeatedly stated that Greenland is not for sale, reaffirming their opposition to the idea.

Social media reactions were swift, with critics mocking the renewed push. One user wrote, “Going back to Greenland shows how few ideas the administration has left,” while another commented, “It sounds crazy that they are pushing this again. Trump never learns from previous mistakes.”