President Trump isn’t letting the Greenland idea melt away.
Speaking to NATO leaders Wednesday, Trump revived his long-running push for the Arctic island, arguing Greenland matters far more to the United States than it does to Denmark and suggesting Washington never should have handed it back after World War II.
According to Trump’s account, the United States effectively assumed responsibility for Greenland after Nazi Germany occupied Denmark during the war. He argued that returning the island afterward was a mistake, framing American control as a matter of global security rather than simply expanding U.S. territory.
“Greenland is very important for the United States but it’s not important for Denmark. In fact, when Denmark was overrun by the Nazis in less than one day…they asked us to take care of Greenland…We shouldn’t have given it back to them because we’re the ones that need it. We need it for protection of the world—not just the United States,” Trump said Wednesday.
.@POTUS: "Greenland is very important for the United States but it's not important for Denmark. In fact, when Denmark was overrun by the Nazis in less than one day…they asked us to take care of Greenland…We shouldn't have given it back to them because we're the ones that need… pic.twitter.com/IRehRZKa9s
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026
The comments drew an immediate contrast with Denmark’s position.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made clear at the same summit that Greenland is not up for discussion. She said Copenhagen expects its NATO allies to respect both Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to determine their own future.
Asked whether Denmark would defend the island if it came under attack, Frederiksen said her country is prepared to protect every part of NATO territory, including Greenland.
Trump’s interest in Greenland stretches back years, but the strategic arguments behind it remain central to his case.
The island sits atop what the provided information describes as potentially the world’s largest rare earth mineral reserves outside China. Those materials are used in products ranging from smartphones to advanced military equipment, and Western countries have spent years looking for new supply chains as China maintains a dominant position in mining, refining and related technologies.
Greenland also occupies a key military position in the Arctic.
The Trump Administration warned Denmark in 2018 against allowing China to build three airports in Greenland, citing concerns that they could potentially be used for military purposes.
The island is also home to Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, the northernmost U.S. military installation. Under a longstanding defense agreement between Washington and Copenhagen, the base supports America’s missile early-warning system as well as operations for Space Command and NORAD. Its location has become increasingly significant as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping routes and draws greater attention from China and Russia.
The idea of the United States acquiring Greenland isn’t new.
The Truman Administration reportedly offered Denmark $100 million for the island in 1946, but Copenhagen declined. Nearly 80 years later, Trump has put the conversation back on the international stage, even as Denmark insists Greenland isn’t for sale.
