President Donald Trump said he believes the United States needs full “ownership” of Greenland—and that the motivation is personal.
In a January 7 interview with The New York Times, Trump described his push to control the Arctic territory as something he considers “psychologically important” for his own sense of success, not merely a matter of strategy or defense.
During the wide-ranging sit-down with Times reporters, Trump was pressed on why he wouldn’t simply expand the U.S. military presence on Greenland—an option permitted under a longstanding agreement with Denmark—if his stated aim is to deter foreign threats. Trump argued that boosting troop levels wouldn’t be enough on its own.
“Why is ownership important here?” Times national security correspondent David E. Sanger asked.
“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success,” Trump replied. “I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document, that you can have a base.”
Asked whether the psychological importance was for him personally or for the United States, Trump answered directly: “Psychologically important for me. Now, maybe another president would feel differently, but so far I’ve been right about everything.”
The comments came as Trump continued publicly warning that the U.S. must block Russia or China from expanding influence in Greenland. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” he told reporters on January 9.
Trump also suggested he wouldn’t rule out the use of nuclear force to take the territory, while acknowledging such a move “might upset NATO,” since Greenland is a self-governing territory within NATO member Denmark.
The remarks triggered swift alarm among U.S. lawmakers and NATO observers. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy warned on NBC News’ Meet the Press that a U.S. takeover of Greenland could effectively “end NATO,” pointing to Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty, which treats an armed attack on one NATO member as an attack on all.
International reaction followed as well. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of using “other countries as an excuse to pursue its own private interests.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, posting on Facebook, warned that “the idea of freedom should not be compromised,” and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to international law, sovereignty, and self-determination.
“Denmark is a loyal and strong ally. We are in the midst of a significant rearmament, and we are ready to defend our values — wherever it is necessary — also in the Arctic,” she wrote.
Trump’s Greenland rhetoric comes after months of escalating focus on the territory, which is rich in minerals and oil reserves. Since returning to office, he has repeatedly framed Greenland as essential to U.S. security and global leverage, making it a frequent—and sometimes daily—theme in early 2026.
In the Times interview, Trump also hinted at what he believes could limit his ambitions: “my own morality. My own mind … it’s the only thing that can stop me” from achieving broader strategic objectives.
