Trump says US needs Greenland for security—PM says nation is not for sale

President-elect Donald Trump says the United States needs to own Greenland. He called it “an absolute necessity” for national security Sunday night on social media as he announced on Truth Social that he has nominated Ken Howery to be the next ambassador to Denmark. Greenland's prime minister responded, saying the island is "not for sale."

Trump wrote Truth Social, after making the announcement of Howrey at the beginning of his statement, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States. Thank you Ken, and congratulations!”

In response to Trump’s post over the weekend, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede said in a statement, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” according to The Hill.

In late 2019, Trump was also suggesting the US somehow buy Greenland, which has been a part of Denmark for six centuries, because "strategically, it would be interesting." Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not find it interesting five years ago and rejected the idea.

“Denmark essentially owns it. We’re very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world,” Trump observed at the time. "Strategically, it’s interesting, and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit. It’s not number one on the burner."

Over the weekend, Trump also suggested that the US could take back ownership of the Panama Canal.