“The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years,” Trump wrote on Saturday. “Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused. Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important.”
One Republican senator, the retiring Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), often a thorn in Trump’s side, was quick to attack the president’s missive in a post on X.
“This response to our own allies for sending a small number of troops to Greenland for training is bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America’s allies,” he wrote. “It’s great for Putin, Xi and other adversaries who want to see NATO divided.”
Trump will speak to European partners next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with his plans for Greenland, Venezuela and Iran sure to serve as major talking points throughout the conference.
The European Union is already under a 15 percent tariff levy on most exports applied last year by the Trump administration. And it’s unlikely that the president will be able to add additional tariffs on individual countries within the continent, which is bound together by a single market.
Felicia Schwartz contributed to this report.