A clear majority of the American public does not support President Donald Trump's controversial efforts to acquire Greenland, with a mere 17% backing the plan, according to a new nationwide poll.
Broad Opposition to Annexation Plans
The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted over two days and concluding on Tuesday 13 January 2026, found that 47% of respondents actively disapproved of the US government's attempts to gain control of the vast Arctic island. A further 35% said they were unsure of their position on the matter.
The findings highlight significant public unease regarding President Trump's recent threats towards Denmark, a longstanding NATO ally which holds sovereignty over Greenland. The poll's release comes just as US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials at the White House on Wednesday 14 January.
This high-level diplomatic meeting follows a firm statement from Greenland's own prime minister, who asserted just yesterday that his nation wishes to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Overwhelming Rejection of Military Force
The most striking result from the poll concerns the potential use of military action. An overwhelming 71% of Americans believe it would be a "bad idea" for the US to use military force to take possession of Greenland from Denmark.
This opposition cuts across party lines, encompassing nine out of ten Democrats and six out of ten Republicans. Only a tiny 4% of all Americans—including just 10% of Republicans and almost no Democrats—thought such an action would be a "good idea."
Denmark has warned that any military move against its territory would effectively mean the end of the NATO alliance, the crucial transatlantic defence pact established in 1949. The poll suggests the American public shares these alliance concerns, with 66% of respondents worried that the Greenland push will damage NATO and US relationships with European allies.
Trump's Hemispheric Ambitions and Political Context
The push for Greenland has emerged as a centrepiece of President Trump's second-term ambition to dominate affairs in the Western Hemisphere. Earlier this month, he vowed to "run" Venezuela following a military raid that captured its president.
Despite this aggressive posture, the poll indicates a continued public weariness of foreign conflict. President Trump initially campaigned on promises to avoid new wars, a position that resonated with voters tired of prolonged engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Appetite for foreign adventurism, including territorial expansion, has remained low throughout his second term.
The survey also revealed that 33% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of Iran, where he has also issued threats, while 43% disapprove. Furthermore, about one in five Americans admitted they had not even heard of the plans to acquire Greenland.
The online poll gathered responses from 1,217 US adults and has a credibility interval, similar to a margin of error, of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
