On Monday, we learned that Donald Trump Jr. – the President-elect’s son, in case anyone hadn’t derived that information already – was heading to Greenland. On Tuesday, a photo and a Truth Social post from the President-elect revealed that the presidential son had arrived, but did not say what purpose he had for visiting Greenland.
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Donald Trump, Jr. is traveling to Greenland amid his father’s renewed interest in the U.S. gaining control over the Danish territory.
The younger Trump reportedly has no plans to meet with any officials in Greenland during his visit Tuesday but the president-elect nonetheless linked the trip to his larger ambitions in a social media post.
“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation,” Trump said Monday on Truth Social. “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
This isn’t the first time the President-elect has talked about Greenland; he has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing the territory, including an effort in his first term.
See Related: Russians Reply to Trump’s Greenland Ambitions
Former Trump Adviser: Make Greenland Part of Alaska. Alaskans: No Thanks.
So why send his son? In a video from Greenland, Donald Trump Jr. talked only of his arrival in Greenland, where he was staying, and the scenery and history of the island.
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Don Jr has arrived in Greenland 🇬🇱 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tNVWbMGe1V
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 7, 2025
The President-elect posted a very general statement on Truth Social:
Donald Trump Junior’s presence in Greenland raises some interesting questions. It’s not clear who the President-elect is referring to with the words “…and my Reps.” Donald Trump Jr. has no authority to negotiate anything on behalf of the United States of America. He is not a public official. But this type of back-door diplomacy or international deal-making isn’t exactly a new thing, and Trump the Younger may be there to test the waters, as it were. His name gives him a certain level of access to local leaders that the general run of tourists lacks, and it’s not inconceivable that he may be laying the groundwork for some kind of discussion.
Nothing is likely to come of this, of course. Greenland’s leadership isn’t sanguine about the idea.
Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Egede, has said publicly that he wants to push for independence from Denmark but has also reiterated that his territory isn’t for sale in the midst of Trump’s proposals. Under a 2009 agreement, Greenland can declare independence from Denmark after a territory-wide referendum.
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The Kingdom of Denmark has likewise repeatedly said that Greenland isn’t for sale. So why does the incoming Trump administration seem so determined to explore this idea? Denmark is already a NATO ally, and as such we are obligated by treaty to defend Greenland should this become necessary. We already have a base on the island. The rare-earth metals and oil/gas resources on Greenland, one would think, would be a matter of trade negotiation.
The more this story develops, the more one wonders: What is Donald Trump up to?
