Newsroom
Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Greenland on Tuesday, following his father’s renewed calls to make the autonomous Arctic territory a part of the United States. The 47-year-old son of the president-elect made the trip to the world’s largest island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and hosts a significant U.S. military base. Trump Jr. visited in a personal capacity, intending to film content for his podcast Triggered.
Ahead of his visit, Trump Jr. spoke on his podcast, describing the trip as “a very long, personal day trip,” adding, “We want to meet people... They seem like a great bunch of people.” The visit, however, was not official, and according to Danish broadcaster DR, he would not meet with any government officials. While the specifics of his reception remain unclear, tensions linger due to his father’s controversial stance on Greenland.
During his first presidential term, Donald Trump Sr. stirred controversy by suggesting the U.S. should buy Greenland. As his inauguration approaches, Trump Jr.'s visit coincides with renewed calls for the territory to become part of the U.S. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump Sr. wrote, “My son, Don Jr., and various representatives, will be travelling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights." He continued, “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. Make Greenland Great Again.”
Trump's comments were met with skepticism, especially in light of remarks made by Elon Musk, a Trump ally. Musk suggested that the people of Greenland might want to join the U.S., writing on X, “The people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they want to be part of America.” However, these sentiments clash with the response from Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, who dismissed Trump’s ideas as unrealistic. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” Egede stated in December. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.”
Greenland, which gained home rule from Denmark in 1979, has ambitions for greater independence. In his New Year’s speech, Egede called for Greenland to shake off “the shackles of colonialism” and gain full sovereignty. Tensions with Denmark have been evident recently, with the Danish royal family making symbolic changes to the national coat of arms. King Frederik altered the design to better highlight the polar bear and ram, symbols representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands, respectively. The monarch emphasized, “We belong together.”
