The son of the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, businessman Donald Trump Jr., is set to visit Greenland on Tuesday, where he will meet with local politicians advocating for the island’s independence, according to Greenlandic and Danish media reports on Monday.
Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to hold talks with various figures, including Erik Jensen, leader of the influential social-democratic Siumut party. In late December 2024, Jensen officially invited Trump Jr. to visit the island. Greenland’s government confirmed the visit but clarified that it is intended to be a private trip. On Monday, a private jet carrying Trump Jr.’s associates landed at the airport in Nuuk.
“Humiliation of the Danish Government”
The Danish press has described Trump Jr.’s visit to Greenland as a “Humiliation of the Danish Government”. “Even if it’s a private visit by the president-elect’s son, no one should doubt its purpose,” emphasized Bent Winther, a commentator for the Danish newspaper Berlingske. He added that it is evident Denmark is responsible for Greenland’s foreign and security policies.
Trump’s Son Travels to Greenland
In late December, Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk’s associate, billionaire Ken Howery, as the U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen. At the same time, Trump emphasized that “ownership and control of Greenland are absolutely essential.” He stated this was necessary “for national security and global freedom.” In response, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede reiterated that the island, which is part of Denmark, is not for sale. In his New Year’s address, he also expressed support for Greenland’s independence, although he did not specify a timeline for such a move.
It is worth noting that the Danish parliament granted autonomy to Greenland in 1979, which was expanded in 2008. Since 2009, Greenland has had the right to declare independence from Denmark, but no decision has been made to date. The island has a population of about 56,000 and receives substantial budgetary support from Copenhagen annually.
Trump’s Interest in Greenland
Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland stems from its strategic location in the Arctic. The world’s largest island holds military and economic significance. It is also a symbol of climate change and melting glaciers. As we wrote earlier, in 2019, during his first instance in the White House, Trump offered to buy Greenland from Denmark. This proposal was then firmly rejected by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“Humiliation of the Danish Government”. Not Just Greenland
Trump has made similar proposals many times recently regarding the Panama Canal. Are these just empty words or an announcement of serious changes in geopolitics? Is this a sign of a change in alliances?
