President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice for the U.S. ambassador to Denmark on Sunday, saying he wants the U.S. to own and manage Greenland, a desire he made clear during his first term as president. It was.
“For the sake of national security and freedom around the world, the United States feels that ownership and control of Greenland is absolutely necessary,” President Trump said in a statement posted on Truth Social.
His comments about Greenland came in the same statement that President Trump announced that he had selected PayPal co-founder Ken Howley to serve as ambassador to Denmark.
“Ken will do a great job representing the interests of the United States,” he said.
President Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland comes after he demanded that Panama return ownership and control of the Panama Canal to the United States, a move vehemently opposed by the country’s president.
President Trump has previously indicated he would like to purchase Greenland in 2019. At the time, he was primarily attracted to the country’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance.
Denmark’s leaders were unfazed by the president’s claims. Although the island has autonomy, it remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish territory. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I really hope this is not serious,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Greenland in 2019. He spoke during a visit to Rand.
President Trump was unhappy with Frederiksen’s rebuttal and even canceled a meeting with her over her comments about the absurdity of the proposed deal.
The Greenland purchase plan fizzled during Trump’s presidency and was completely abandoned by President Joe Biden’s administration, but now Trump appears intent on reviving the plan after taking back the Oval Office.
