Trump Gaslights Greenlanders: "We Will Make You Rich"

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland during his address to Congress, painting a picture of prosperity and security for the "incredible people" of the island, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, Patricia Zengerle and Michelle Nichols reported for Reuters.

Greenland’s strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the U.S., as it lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, a critical factor for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system.

"We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before," Trump said. "It's a very small population, a very, very large piece of land, and very, very important for military security," he added.

Opinion polls show that most Greenlanders reject Trump and oppose joining the U.S., even as a majority favor eventual independence from Denmark.

Even before beginning his second term as president, Trump expressed his desire to make Greenland a part of the United States, despite Denmark—a NATO ally—stating it is not for sale.

Greenland’s strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the U.S., as it lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, a critical factor for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system.

Greenland’s ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party has said it will not rush an independence vote following the March 11 general election, citing concerns about economic and welfare implications.

"The future of Greenland is really for the people of Greenland to decide," Denmark's U.N. Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen told reporters on Monday. "Independence is possible, and they have the right to self-determination."