Trump Refuses to Rule Out Using Military to Take Greenland, Panama Canal

Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club on Jan. 7, 2025 in Palm Beach, Fla. Image copyright: Scott Olson/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • At a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump refused to "commit" to not using the military to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, stressing that the US needs them for economic security.

  • Since his election victory, Trump has expressed a desire to take over the Arctic island from Denmark, as well as regain control over the canal that was turned over to Panama in 1999 in accordance with a Carter administration treaty.

  • Trump has argued that America needs Greenland — home to a large US military base — for national security, adding that NATO ally Denmark has allowed Chinese and Russian ships to sail near the island. The pres.-elect has even questioned the legitimacy of Danish claim to the island.

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

It's concerning that Trump, just days before his return to the White House, has publicly treated countries — more specifically reliable US allies — as if their territories and sovereignty were up for trade. Given that he is no longer a newcomer to frontline politics, he should have known better that this approach can bring no good.

Pro-Trump narrative

Pres.-elect Trump's goal of acquiring Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada makes perfect sense despite his opponents saying otherwise. With China a looming threat to the free world, it's a matter of survival that America ramps up its national and economic security in order to help its allies.

Metaculus Prediction


Public Figures


Go Deeper


Articles on this story