President Donald J. Trump wants Greenland. Full title, ownership papers, and no, he is not interested in a lease at this time. “Only the United States can protect this gigantic land mass, this gigantic piece of ice,” Trump said on Wednesday, January 21, in his address to the posh World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He seems one step closer to getting his wish.
“I seek immediate negotiations to once again discuss the United States’ takeover of Greenland,” he told leaders gathered in Davos. “It’s a small question,” he joked.
Five hours later, Trump announced “the framework of a future deal” on Truth Social. There is no need to bring a chainsaw to NATO. The tariff weapon worked again – and quickly. The framework, brokered by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said he already had a solution in the works, was good enough for Trump to withdraw the Feb. 1 tariffs he threatened to impose on NATO allies including Denmark and Britain.
Don’t be shocked by Trump’s tactics. There is some smart thinking behind Trump’s bid for Greenland. The post-1945 world order eschewed border changes. Trump sees it differently. “This huge, unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. The US has not made any major land transactions since the Spanish-American War of 1898, with the last purchase taking place in the Marshall Islands in 1947.
TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOT USE MILITARY FORCE TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND
President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, January 21, 2026. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
“I will not use force,” Trump assured the crowd. Of course not. Trump will not submit to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal seizure tactics. He’s not going to steal Greenland. The last thing he wants is paratroopers in Arctic gear invading Greenland.
The outright takeover of Greenland for the US would be the largest real estate deal of Trump’s career. However, Trump’s main motive is wisely national security. The territory of Greenland is a real, pressing concern. “Those missiles would fly right over the middle of that piece of ice,” he said, adding that American ownership is critical to “keeping our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay.”
On strategic grounds, Trump is right. Russia’s formidable new Yasen-class nuclear submarines, based on the Kola Peninsula, can launch Kalibr and Oniks missiles, and the new hypersonic Zirkon missile. Russian bombers and anti-submarine aircraft are active – just ask the Norwegians, who intercepted Russian aircraft again on January 6. Chinese ships and submarines are also prowling around.
You can imagine the terrifying briefing cards that Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and others show Trump as they design the architecture for the Golden Dome.
The buyer is ‘highly motivated’, as the real estate agents say.
TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, CLAIMS CANADA TO BE ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE
So here comes the art of dealing. At Davos, Trump unleashed every real estate tactic, from threats to pleas to mocking the value of this “big, beautiful piece of ice.”
As you might expect when preparing for negotiations, Trump continued to reduce the commercial value of Greenland’s crucial mineral resources. He called Greenland ‘a piece of ice, cold and poorly situated’. Trump also criticized the current owner, Denmark, for failing to invest and maintain the property. According to Trump, Denmark pledged an additional $200 million for the defense of Greenland in 2019, but that did not work out.
These are all classic real estate tactics.
NATO CHIEF LEAVES TRUMP IN DAVOS, SAYS HE FORCED EUROPE TO ‘STEP IN’ DEFENSE
Then there was the emotional appeal. After decades of a security presence in Europe, we “never got anything” from NATO, Trump said. “All we are asking for is to get Greenland, including rights, titles and ownership,” Trump lamented. He then pointed out that an American takeover would be a good deal for NATO. American ownership of Greenland “would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance,” Trump suggested.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS ADVICE
Undoubtedly, the takeover of Greenland would be the number 1 real estate deal of Trump’s career for the US. However, Trump’s main motive is wisely national security. The territory of Greenland is a real, pressing concern.
Sure, he loves history. Trump described how the US saved Greenland from Nazi Germany (which is true). Subsequently, the US Air Force operated ferry routes to England for B-17 bombers, P-38 Lightning fighters, C-47 cargo transports and many other fighter aircraft via airfields in Greenland. Trump regrets that Democrat President Harry S. Truman returned it after World War II.
Yet this is not an imperialist or mercantilist grab. Trump doesn’t want to make money from Greenland; on the contrary, he wants to spend it. On Golden Dome. And all P-8 anti-submarine warplanes and other assets to defend Greenland.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump likes Rutte and called him ‘great’ in Davos. Rutte, who was Prime Minister of the Netherlands, must now find a way to give Trump a share in Greenland. It may take a treaty, a joint venture, a defense treaty or a real estate deal, but there is no turning back. Trump made clear in Davos that his continued enthusiasm for Ukraine and NATO depends on securing legal access to Greenland to improve U.S. defense.
Let the negotiations begin.
