Trump Says US Control, Ownership of Greenland an ‘Absolute Necessity’

The United States made previous offers to purchase Greenland, first in 1867 and again in 1946.

The Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) is pictured in northern Greenland, on October 4, 2023. The base changed its name earlier in 2023. The reason for the new name is that the base is no longer operated by the US Air Force, but instead by the US Space Force. (Photo by Thomas Traasdahl / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT Photo by THOMAS TRAASDAHL/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump said on Dec. 22 that U.S. control and ownership of Greenland is “an absolute necessity” for “national security and freedom throughout the world.”

His comments came as he announced PayPal co-founder and former Trump administration U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Ken Howery as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark.