Donald Trump's Truth Social account shared 23 posts in less than an hour on Sunday, including several focused on Greenland. One post featured an AI-generated image of the world's biggest island, showing penguins wearing jumpers and hats and waving American flags.
Social media users were quick to point out that penguins do not live in Greenland; they live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. One person on X wrote: "Kids in school learn that there are no penguins in Greenland. They live in Antarctica and the southern hemisphere." A second said: "Trump posted a photo with Greenland and penguins on his social media platform. However, penguins do not live in the Arctic, which includes Greenland."
US-Denmark deal over Greenland
The posts come after the US President claimed a deal between the US and Denmark over Greenland will make Europe safer. Washington announced in September that a deal had been reached with fellow NATO member Denmark over the semi-autonomous Arctic territory.
The US president said he had secured an agreement with Denmark that gives America "permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing all of our many US concerns". The White House administration will "immediately" begin the process of developing a larger military presence on the mineral-rich island, he added at the time.
Deal signed at UNGA
Denmark confirmed the deal will be signed at UNGA by all three governments next week, but parliamentary action is still needed by the Danish and Greenland administrations before it can be enforced.
At the UN, Mr Trump hailed it as an "unprecedented agreement regarding the northern frontier of North America". He told the gathering: "We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe and other places."
Despite the international tensions he sparked with his previous and repeated claims over the mineral-rich island, Mr Trump said he looked forward "to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland". He said: "It's been a great experience, amazing experience, and we've really formed a bond in doing it." He added: "By expanding America's footprint in the Arctic and North Atlantic, this deal also protects Europe, in addition to America, and greatly protects them. It also very much enhances NATO."
Reactions from UK and Denmark
At the signing of the agreement a short time later, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the occasion "represents a milestone in our longstanding co-operation".
Andy Burnham congratulated Denmark and the US on a deal to "strengthen security in the Arctic". The Prime Minister and his Danish counterpart "welcomed the US' commitment to the region" in a call, Downing Street said.
A No 10 spokesperson said Mr Burnham and his Danish counterpart had discussed the deal "to strengthen security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area" struck this week. "They welcomed the US's commitment to the region and underlined the strategic and shared importance of the High North for Euro-Atlantic security," the statement said. "The Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Frederiksen and the Kingdom of Denmark on negotiating a deal benefiting the US, Greenland and Denmark, and said he would pass on his congratulations to President Trump."
Downing Street said Mr Burnham had expressed his intention to use UNGA to "drive forward work on issues that matter to people at home" including the cost of living, as well as making progress on stepping up support for Ukraine.
