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Vice President JD Vance defended the Trump administration’s interest in acquiring Greenland during a visit to the U.S. Space Force base in the Arctic territory on Friday. His trip coincided with President Donald Trump’s strong remarks at the White House, where he declared, “We have to have Greenland,” underscoring the administration’s commitment to securing the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
“We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security,” Trump told reporters. “It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t.”
Vance, accompanied by second lady Usha Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Senator Mike Lee, addressed U.S. troops at the Pituffik Space Base. While he did not endorse military action, he claimed that Greenlanders would be better off under U.S. protection than under Denmark’s rule.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass.”
Vance stated that the Trump administration believes Greenland will eventually seek independence from Denmark and hinted that a “deal, Donald Trump style” could follow. However, Trump has not ruled out other means to secure the island.
While Vance focused on Greenland’s strategic importance, he faced sharp criticism from Danish and Greenlandic officials. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede called the administration’s approach “aggressive,” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the U.S. pressure as “unacceptable.”
Public sentiment in Greenland appears overwhelmingly against the idea. A recent poll found that 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the U.S. “He can’t just take it like that,” said Daniel Rosing, a trainee electrician in Greenland.
Despite opposition, Trump reiterated his vision in a recent speech before Congress, saying, “We strongly support Greenland’s right to determine its own future, and if they choose, we welcome them into the United States.”
As tensions mount, the Trump administration remains firm on its Arctic ambitions, setting the stage for further diplomatic friction with Denmark and Greenland.
