02:44 15-01-2026

Trump Team Eyes Greenland Referendum for US Control

whitehouse.gov

Donald Trump and his inner circle are weighing a plan to bring Greenland under US control through a referendum, despite public rhetoric on security and force.

US President Donald Trump and his inner circle are weighing a scenario in which Washington would seek control over Greenland through a referendum, Politico reports, citing two sources familiar with his thinking.

According to the publication, Trump and his closest advisers see a popular vote as the preferred path for Greenland to join the United States, rather than a formal takeover imposed from the outside. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that the White House views a referendum as a way to legitimize such a move politically.

Politico notes, however, that this behind-the-scenes approach clashes with Trump’s public messaging. Repeated statements by the president and his allies about Greenland’s strategic importance to US national security, combined with his refusal to rule out the use of force, undermine efforts to frame the idea as purely voluntary and democratic.

One of the sources told the outlet that Trump’s aides are already exploring practical mechanisms that could push Greenland’s authorities toward holding a referendum. These discussions reportedly include methods of shaping public opinion on the island, as well as financial levers that could influence the outcome of a potential vote.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, yet Trump has repeatedly argued that the island should become part of the United States, pointing to its strategic value. At the same time, he has avoided giving clear answers when asked whether control over Greenland takes precedence over preserving NATO unity, and he has stopped short of committing to any rejection of a force-based option.