President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of imposing tariffs on countries that resist his controversial ambition for the United States to acquire Greenland. The former president framed the potential move as a matter of urgent national security.
Trump's Tariff Threat and Unwavering Ambition
Speaking at a rural health roundtable event on Friday, 16 January 2026, Trump declared his readiness to use economic measures to advance his goal. "I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security," he stated.
This follows comments made to reporters in the Oval Office just two days prior, on Wednesday, where Trump was asked about his options for acquiring the vast Arctic territory. He firmly replied that he was "not going to give up options."
Overwhelming Opposition and Staggering Cost
The push faces significant hurdles, not least from the American public and the territory's sovereign power, Denmark. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday revealed that only 17 percent of Americans approve of Trump's pursuit of Greenland.
Furthermore, a large majority of both Republican and Democratic voters oppose using military force to annex the island. The financial burden is also colossal, with NBC News reporting that a potential purchase could cost the US up to $700 billion – a sum exceeding half of the entire annual budget for the Department of Defense.
Diplomatic Stalemate with Denmark
High-level talks at the White House on Wednesday failed to bridge the gap between the US and Danish positions. Danish and Greenlandic officials met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the matter.
Following the discussions, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed a "fundamental disagreement" remained. "We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland," Rasmussen told journalists.
He emphasised the unified stance of the Kingdom of Denmark, stating, "We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom." The Independent has contacted the White House for further comment on the escalating situation.
