Could the United States buy Greenland? Donald Trump Jr. to visit Greenland as president-elect reconsiders US takeover

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Donald Trump Jr. is heading to Greenland, visiting the Danish territory, as his father continues to fuel seemingly wild suggestions that the United States could take control of it.

The younger Trump is going on a day trip to film video content for podcasting and will not meet with any government officials or political figures, according to a person familiar with the project who was not authorized to speak publicly.

“I heard that the people of Greenland are “MAGA”. My son, Don Jr, and various representatives will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sites,” President-elect Donald Trump said Monday evening on his social network, referring to his “Make America Great Again” project. “. movement

“Greenland is an incredible place, and people will benefit enormously if and when it becomes part of our nation,” the president-elect wrote. “We will protect and cherish it from a very vicious outside world. LET’S MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

Danish TV channel DR quoted Foreign Ministry head Mininnguaq Kleist as reporting that Trump Jr. would arrive on Tuesday for a private visit, and that there is no investigation into a meeting with the Greenland government .

Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede made no comment. The island is an autonomous territory, part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Trump already had plans for Greenland. In a statement last month as he announced his choice as U.S. ambassador to Denmark, he wrote: “For reasons of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America believes that the property and control of Greenland are an absolute necessity. »

Trump’s eldest son became a prominent player in his father’s political movement and served on his presidential transition team, helping select the people who will staff the new White House.

But Trump Jr. has said he has no plans to join his father’s administration, but instead intends to remain a key supporter of his father and his agenda from the outside . He is particularly vocal online, where he often engages in trolling and sharing memes and hosts his own twice-weekly podcast, “Triggered With Don Jr.”

Greenlandic media reported that Trump Jr. may meet with Erik Jensen, chairman of the ruling Siumut party and the island’s equivalent of finance minister. But the person familiar with his plans said Trump Jr. would not meet with Jensen.

Also Monday, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and close adviser to the president-elect, said on X, the social networking site he owns, that “the people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they wants to be part of it. of America!”

During his first term, Trump considered purchasing Greenland, which succeeded Denmark in 1979. He even canceled a planned trip to Denmark in August 2019 after its prime minister rejected the idea.

The largest island in the world, Greenland lies between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is 80% covered by an ice cap and is home to a large US military base.

In response to Trump’s statement in December, Egede said: “Greenland is ours.”

“We are not for sale and never will be,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long struggle for freedom.”

Greenland has its own parliament and government led by Egede. New elections are expected to take place no later than April 6.

Aaja Chemnitz, a member of Greenland’s parliament, wrote in a Facebook post that Greenlanders should learn to say no to the president-elect, writing that it is “unbelievable that some can be so naive in thinking that happiness is made by us.” . become an American citizen” and that she “does not want to be part of Trump’s ardent dreams of expanding his empire to include our country.”

“Don’t let Trump control the election campaign in Greenland and let the people lose in this game,” Chemnitz wrote.

Price reported from New York. Associated Press writer David Keyton contributed to this report from Berlin.