On Tuesday, President Donald Trump renewed his call for Greenland to join the United States.
During his speech, he stated that while he supports the island’s right to self-determination, the U.S. would acquire it “one way or another”—regardless of local sentiment.
Speaking before Congress, Trump largely focused on domestic priorities, such as cracking down on undocumented immigration and cutting government spending.
But he also reaffirmed his expansionist vision, referencing his ambitions to bring Greenland under U.S. control and celebrating what he called a first step toward reclaiming the Panama Canal.
A Direct Appeal to Greenland
With Greenland’s general elections approaching, Trump addressed the island’s people directly, calling them “incredible” and emphasizing the island’s rich mineral resources and strategic location in the Arctic.
“We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” he said, as cited by the Hindustan Times.
However, Trump also indicated he would not take no for an answer: “One way or another, we’re going to get it.”
He went on to tout the benefits of U.S. acquisition: “We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.”
Greenland’s strategic importance has been increasing, with China and Russia expanding their presence in the Arctic as climate change opens new sea routes.
A Shift Toward Territorial Expansion?
Trump’s assertion that the U.S. will acquire Greenland aligns with his broader view of global politics, which places less emphasis on traditional alliances and more on assertive territorial strategies.
His rhetoric echoes his stance on the Panama Canal, which the U.S. transferred to Panama in 1999. Trump framed the canal handover as a mistake and claimed his administration is already working to take it back.
“To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it,” Trump said.
He pointed to a recent deal in which Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison sold its Panama port operations to a U.S.-led consortium.
“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama—and now we’re taking it back,” he declared.
A Contradictory Foreign Policy?
While pushing territorial expansion, Trump has also positioned himself as a peacemaker, particularly regarding the Ukraine war. He has pledged to end the conflict and has drawn criticism for suspending military aid to Kyiv.
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent White House visit, Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly scolded Zelensky for being “ungrateful” for past U.S. support. Trump later read a message from Zelensky in which the Ukrainian leader signaled willingness to negotiate a deal that would allow the U.S. to take control of a significant portion of Ukraine’s mineral wealth.
“It’s time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” Trump stated.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has drastically reduced U.S. foreign aid, cutting over 90% of development assistance—a key tool for non-military influence.
Trump has long argued that foreign aid does not serve U.S. interests, a stance backed by advisor Elon Musk, who has championed massive spending cuts in favor of tax reductions.
Trump mocked past aid initiatives, singling out a U.S.-funded LGBTQ+ program in Lesotho, a small African nation with one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS rates. Struggling with the pronunciation of Lesotho, Trump dismissed the program:
“Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI in the African nation of Lesotho,” he said.
“Which nobody has ever heard of,” he added, prompting laughter from Republican lawmakers.
