Donald Trump urges US takeover of Greenland amid defense spending debate

Former U.S. President Donald Trump told the host of the Real America’s Voice program that the United States could take control of Greenland before his term ends in January 2029, urging the host Steve Gruber to "bet on it" and replying, "You win if you bet on it." Trump posted a graphic resembling a Greenlandic village with his face behind a mountain and the caption “Hello, Greenland!” The remarks revived discussion of the 1951 defense agreement that gives the United States military rights on the island, a matter that also concerns Denmark, which retains sovereignty over Greenland.

Icelandic economist Gauti B. Eggertsson highlighted the broader context, noting that U.S. taxpayers fund defenses for Europe, Japan and South Korea, and that the growing isolationist sentiment in the United States underlies the Greenland comments. Eggertsson warned that such policies could affect Iceland and other NATO members, linking the Trump statement to a wider shift in American foreign‑policy attitudes.