Fox News anchor Jesse Watters ignited a fiery response from viewers after boldly claiming that the United States possesses ownership of the moon. The controversial statement emerged during a lively panel discussion on 'The Five', which centred on former President Donald Trump's persistent efforts to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
Watters' Provocative Remarks on US Expansion
During the debate, Watters passionately argued that America's destiny involves securing Arctic territories, explicitly referencing Greenland. He declared, 'We have to secure Greenland, it will happen. The United States always secures our interests. Economically, militarily, either by force or purchase.' To bolster his argument, Watters cited historical examples such as Alaska, the Philippines, and the Marshall Islands following World War II.
He then escalated his rhetoric by adding, 'We got the moon, I think we own it! I know we own it.' While fellow panellists began to chuckle at this assertion, Watters remained steadfast, continuing to outline his vision of American dominance. He stated, 'When the world changes, we change. So globalism's dead, we have to protect our own supply lines, we have to protect ourselves from missiles coming from China and we're gonna' do it whether they like it or not.'
Mimicking Trump's Rhetoric on Greenland
Watters further echoed Trump's previous comments by suggesting that Denmark 'cannot defend' Greenland from potential attacks. He framed American protection as an attractive proposition, saying, 'They live under our security umbrella. It is a big, beautiful umbrella. Do they want to live under it or not? We are offering them $700billion!' He also claimed that the Danish royal family and other Europeans are 'dying to do this deal' with US officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Confidently predicting the outcome, Watters remarked, 'Once Bessent and Lutnick and Rubio get into a room with all these guys and knock their heads together, we're getting Greenland.'
Mixed Reactions from Media and Public
The anchor's comments quickly drew criticism from various liberal outlets and social media users. The Huffington Post labelled his claim as 'universally stupid,' while one social media poster commented, 'I've never used the term "blithering idiot," but it applies to this man.' Another user described Watters as the 'biggest buffoon on cable news.'
However, not all responses were negative. Some viewers interpreted his moon ownership remark as humorous, with one account noting, 'Pretty sure he's joking when he said we own the moon.' This division highlights the polarised nature of reactions to such provocative statements in today's media landscape.
Context of Trump's Greenland Pursuit
Watters' outburst occurred against the backdrop of Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland. On Wednesday, Trump announced that he had agreed 'the framework of a future deal' regarding control of the island, which he deems vital for American security, following talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte. In a significant shift, Trump suspended plans to impose tariffs on Britain and other countries resisting his Greenland initiative.
US markets rallied on this news, having previously climbed when Trump proclaimed he would not use force to seize what he called a 'big, beautiful piece of ice'. The Daily Mail revealed that Trump is considering offering each of Greenland's 57,000 inhabitants $1 million if they vote to join the United States.
Additionally, NATO military officers have reportedly discussed an arrangement where Denmark would cede 'small pockets of Greenlandic' territory to the US for military bases, akin to UK bases in Cyprus. Trump described this potential deal as 'the ultimate long–term deal', stating it would last 'infinite' with 'no time limit'.
International Backlash and Diplomatic Tensions
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen firmly rejected the idea of US ownership, calling it a 'red line' that will not happen. He asserted that Copenhagen would retain ownership of Greenland despite Trump's demands for acquisition negotiations.
Trump's apparent climbdown on tariffs has fueled critics who coined the term TACO, short for 'Trump Always Chickens Out'. The ongoing dispute has raised serious questions about NATO's survival and strained Britain's 'special relationship' with the US.
During a rambling address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump belittled allies, suggesting that without America, Europeans would be 'speaking German, with maybe a little Japanese'. He also warned that 'bad things' would happen to Britain and Europe unless they addressed immigration and green energy policies, claiming America 'never got anything from NATO' despite allied sacrifices in Afghanistan.
This episode underscores the volatile nature of current diplomatic discourse and the role of media personalities in amplifying contentious geopolitical debates.
