Donald Trump Jr. Leaves Greenland After Short Visit Amid Territorial Purchase Controversy
PHOTOGRAPH: EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/GETTY IMAGES
Donald Trump Jr. departed Greenland on Tuesday after a brief visit lasting less than a day, part of his father’s ongoing push to purchase the autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. The proposal has faced firm rejection from both Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
The son of President-elect Donald Trump traveled to the icy island as part of the controversial bid, despite repeated assurances from Greenlandic and Danish officials that the territory is “not for sale.”
Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede has consistently dismissed the idea. “There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Before leaving, Donald Trump Jr. posted a video to Instagram while aboard his plane. In the video, he accused Danish media of spreading “fake news” about the United States and his family. “Incredible experience,” Trump Jr. said in the video. “By the way, they love America here. They love America. They love Trump.”
He also lashed out at Danish media, claiming, “Danish fake news has been doing a lot of anti-American sentiment, so that shouldn’t surprise us, but let’s go have some fun.” The visit comes as the Trump administration prepares to re-enter the White House with plans to reignite diplomatic and economic ambitions that have previously drawn international skepticism.
The effort to purchase Greenland first floated during Trump’s initial term, was widely criticized as impractical and dismissive of Greenland’s sovereignty. Greenland, a strategically located and resource-rich island, has seen increased attention from global powers due to its geopolitical significance.
However, Greenlandic leaders have expressed strong resistance to the idea of being treated as a commodity, emphasizing their autonomy within the Kingdom of Denmark. Donald Trump Jr.’s brief trip and comments are likely to further strain relations with Denmark and Greenland, as the purchase proposal has already been a source of tension.
The visit underscores the Trump administration’s persistence in pursuing bold and often polarizing initiatives as it readies for its return to power. Whether this renewed interest in Greenland leads to meaningful diplomatic engagement or merely fuels further controversy remains to be seen.
