President Donald Trump reignited international debate over Greenland during post-inauguration remarks on January 20, 2026, asserting that the United States must acquire the strategically located territory and openly challenging Denmark’s claim to sovereignty. In a C-SPAN clip from the event, Trump argued that Denmark’s historical connection to Greenland is insufficient to justify ownership in the modern era.

“We have to have it,” Trump said. “Denmark, they don’t even go there. And because a boat went there 500 years ago and then left, that doesn’t give you a title to property.” His blunt comments echoed his 2019 proposal to purchase Greenland, which Danish officials previously dismissed as absurd, but now framed the issue in sharper geopolitical terms.

Trump emphasized Greenland’s importance to U.S. national security, pointing to growing competition in the Arctic as Russia and China expand their military and economic footprints in the region. From his perspective, control over Greenland is no longer a symbolic or economic question, but a strategic necessity tied to missile defense, shipping lanes, and Arctic dominance.

The renewed push has triggered swift backlash across Europe. Leaders in France and other NATO countries questioned both the substance and tone of Trump’s remarks, warning that unilateral pressure on allies risks destabilizing trust within the alliance. Denmark has maintained that Greenland is not for sale and that its status is a matter of international law and self-determination for the island’s population.

Supporters of Trump’s position argue that his approach reflects a realistic assessment of 21st-century power competition and a willingness to confront outdated assumptions that no longer align with global security realities. Critics counter that the rhetoric undermines diplomatic norms and strains relations with key allies at a time of broader geopolitical uncertainty.

The Greenland dispute now stands as a flashpoint in Trump’s foreign policy agenda, symbolizing his broader insistence that strategic interests must take precedence over tradition and precedent. Whether the controversy evolves into negotiations or deepens transatlantic tensions, Trump’s remarks have made clear that Greenland remains firmly on Washington’s strategic radar.