Jan. 4 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said in an interview published Sunday that the United States needs to annex Greenland "for defense," while his deputy chief of staff's wife was reproached by Denmark's ambassador to the U.S. for a social media post about the possible move.
Trump has consistently discussed annexing Greenland since before retaking office in January 2025, but has also long been rebuffed on the idea by officials in both Denmark and Greenland.
But at a news conference on Saturday morning after the U.S. apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both alluded to the potential of U.S. military action elsewhere in the Americas.
When asked on Sunday if Maduro's apprehension should be interpreted by other nations -- for instance, Greenland, which does not want to be annexed -- as a signal that his administration might consider military action to pursue more goals, Trump demurred.
"They are going to have to view it themselves," Trump told The Atlantic in an interview on Sunday. "I really don't know ... But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense."
