An inside look at President Trump's campaign to acquire Greenland

Key Points:

• Former President Donald Trump pursued an unusual and persistent campaign to acquire Greenland from Denmark, involving proposals to buy the territory, threats of military action, and influence operations, despite Greenland's self-rule and Danish sovereignty.
• Trump’s efforts included sending his son Donald Trump Jr. and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk to Greenland to build local support, though their visit was met with skepticism and revealed attempts to manipulate perceptions both locally and among American conservatives.
• A secret National Security Council task force, the Greenland Policy Coordination Committee, was established to subvert Denmark’s control and accelerate Greenlandic independence in ways that would increase U.S. influence, without transparent coordination with Greenland or Denmark.
• European NATO allies, alarmed by U.S. military threats toward Greenland, deployed troops to the territory in 2025, prepared to resist any invasion, prompting Trump to threaten tariffs on those countries before easing tensions after diplomatic intervention.
• Greenlanders have experienced significant psychological distress due to the U.S. annexation rhetoric, leading to distrust toward the United States and complicating legitimate business and diplomatic relations; meanwhile, ongoing influence efforts continue under Trump’s direction, including appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland.