Former US President Donald Trump has once again forcefully articulated his ambition for the United States to acquire Greenland, framing the proposed territorial takeover as a critical matter of national security. The renewed push comes despite a stark new poll indicating that the vast majority of the American public is firmly against the idea.
Trump's Security Rationale and International Reaction
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, Trump declared that acquiring the vast Arctic nation was "vital" for the Golden Dome missile defence shield project, an initiative he announced in May. He asserted that anything less than US control was "unacceptable".
"IF WE DON'T [take over Greenland], RUSSIA AND CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!", Trump wrote, adding that NATO would become "far more formidable and effective" under Washington's stewardship of the island.
This latest provocation coincided with a visit to the White House by Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers, who met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In a pointed response, Greenland's government announced during the visit that Danish armed forces would expand their presence on the island in close cooperation with NATO allies.
Trump later claimed Denmark had been warned of Chinese and Russian "military goals" towards Greenland. The move has provoked significant concern in Copenhagen and among European partners. French President Emmanuel Macron told his cabinet that affecting an ally's sovereignty would have "unprecedented" knock-on effects.
Overwhelming Domestic Opposition and Implications
The bold geopolitical manoeuvre finds little favour at home. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Wednesday found that just 17% of Americans support the idea of the US taking over Greenland. Almost half (47%) explicitly disapprove, while 35% remain unsure.
The survey revealed broad bipartisan opposition to annexing the island by force. A mere 4% of respondents thought it a "good idea", while nearly three-quarters (71%) disagreed. This opposition included 90% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans.
While Trump's social media posts did not explicitly mention using force, he has previously stated the US would acquire Greenland "the easy way or the hard way", an apparent reference to military power. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that such an action would mean "everything stops… including NATO".
The Strategic Stakes and the Golden Dome Project
Trump has consistently argued that Greenland is "very important for the national security of the United States, Europe, and other parts of the free world". His administration has described the Golden Dome system—modelled on Israel's Iron Dome—as a comprehensive shield designed to detect and stop missiles at all stages of attack.
The White House has stated that Canada has agreed to participate in the project. Trump's focus on Greenland follows a pattern of assertive action in pursuit of his stated aim to control the Western Hemisphere, exemplified by the recent US-led military raid in Venezuela to remove President Nicolas Maduro.
Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, has been a self-governing territory of Denmark for centuries. The ongoing tension underscores the growing strategic significance of the Arctic region and the profound diplomatic challenges posed by Trump's uncompromising vision for US security.
