President Donald Trump has long craved Greenland, a large island in the North Atlantic controlled by Denmark. He has played a game of chicken by threatening to conquer the island and even vowed at a July NATO summit in Ankara to take Greenland for the United States. He has repeatedly posted a meme of his face acquisitively looming over a Greenlandic village with the slogan “Hello Greenland!”

Now Greenland Energy, a company created by Trump supporter Larry Swets of Texas last year in the midst of Trump’s imperialist rhetoric toward the island, has started moving drilling equipment to East Greenland’s Arctic basin. They claim they will mine $1 trillion in crude oil beneath the Jameson Land region. Both Denmark and Greenland are protesting. And, as one prominent TV news anchor pointed out, America may have in effect begun to invade Greenland.

“The minister in charge of mineral resources in the Greenland government did a local interview in Greenland in which he said he was absolutely sure this American oil company would never break the law and try to start this drilling project without permission,” MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow explained. “Should that happen, he said, Greenland has the means to stop their actions. He said, ‘This is a society governed by the rule of law, so I have some broad-shouldered men in black uniforms in the first instance who can help me deal with some illegal activities if I ask for them’ — by which he means, I think, the Greenlandic police. Then he said, ‘Ultimately, I'm sure that the Arctic Command will also contribute’ — by which he means the Danish military would also, he believes, intervene to stop this American oil company from trying to drill for oil in Greenland without any permission to do so.”

Maddow added, “So you put all this together: this Trump-aligned oil company based in Texas saying, ‘We're going to drill for oil in Greenland.’ Greenland saying, ‘Oh, no, you're not.’ The company going ahead and dropping off their drilling equipment anyway. Local residents saying, ‘We'll fight tooth and nail.’ The local government saying, ‘We'll use the police, we'll use the Danish military.’ You put it all together, and it kind of seems like we're invading Greenland. I mean, this company has somehow hornswoggled itself into a partnership with Dr. Phil to make what sure looks like propaganda TV shows about this ‘heroic and exciting’ oil-drilling project — which the government of Greenland says is illegal, and which they don't have permission to carry out.”

Ultimately she asked, “Honestly — is this how we invade Greenland? With Dr. Phil doing a ride-along, like he did with ICE [which Greenland Energy says they are going to do]? All because a Trump donor billionaire says he needs to drill this oil, and who cares what this little country says?”

If America invades Greenland, the European Union could activate its Anti-Coercion Instrument, a series of boycotts and trade restrictions that would effectively devastate America’s economy in retaliation for violating the sovereignty of European nations.

"The EU’s single market counts roughly 450 million consumers," wrote the German Marshall Fund's Antonia Wunnerlich and Georgina Wright in February. "As a result, these tools can have significant extraterritorial impact, even targeting foreign businesses without European subsidiaries. US and Chinese services firms are particularly exposed because their home countries run sizeable services surpluses with the EU."

Additionally, Greenland’s ice sheet is melting as a result of man-made climate change, which is destabilizing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. If the situation worsens, it could lead to rising sea levels, widespread floods, severe storms and other extreme weather events.

“That rate of Greenland melt is approaching or exceeding rates of melt during natural warming periods over the past 12,000 years is not surprising,” Michael Mann, at the time a professor of atmospheric science at Penn State University, told this journalist for Salon in 2020. “It’s what I would expect given the evidence we have already.” He also said that one of his studies found “evidence of the freshening of the sub-polar North Atlantic that we would expect as Greenland continues to melt. That freshening is reducing the stratification of the ocean and likely slowing down the ‘conveyor belt’ ocean circulation (the real-world equivalent of the ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ scenario) showing how these potentially threshold-like climate responses are potentially linked.”

Mann added, “As I am fond of saying, uncertainty is not our friend. It’s cutting against us, not in our favor, as we see and learn more.”

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In Europe, opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed annexation of Greenland is so widespread that even right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expressing her opposition. And on Monday, CNBC reports, "European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stands firmly with Greenland as Trump renews his push for U.S. control of the territory."

CNBC's Sam Meredith reports that von der Leyen "announced a fresh funding boost for Greenland, seeking to shore up Arctic ties with the self-governing Danish territory amid U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation drive."

"Speaking alongside Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen," Meredith explains, "the EU chief said the 200-million-euro ($232.3 million) funding package reflects 'a clear choice' by Greenland to strengthen ties with the 27-nation bloc. The funds, which is to be invested this year and in 2027, is designed to bolster ties between the EU and the Arctic, with Von der Leyen describing Greenland as 'a strategic ally and a trusted friend.'"

Nielsen didn't mince words on Monday, saying, "The European Union continues to be, not only an important partner for Greenland, but also, a loyal and trusted friend … Through these challenging times, your support to us is unfailing. You have stood by us and continue to stand by us. We feel it and are deeply grateful. Thank you."

Meredith notes that the Greenland funding package "comes shortly after Icelanders voted to reject restarting EU membership negotiations and as Trump renews his push to acquire Greenland on national security grounds."

When Frederiksen was asked how Trump might react to the funding package, she responded, "We have been under pressure, and it has been very clear. And we are very thankful for the great support that we have received from our European partners — but, by the way, also globally."

The Danish prime minister noted that Denmark would like to work with the U.S. on defense and national security matters, adding, "But we, of course, would also like to work even closer together with our European allies, and that is exactly what we are doing in the Arctic region now."

Meredith reports, "The EU's Von der Leyen said Greenland 'stood firm and stands firm under enormous pressure. Europe is firmly united with you too. This is the basic message,' she added. Trump has long advocated for control of Greenland, a vast, sparsely populated and largely frozen island, but the U.S. president's fixation on the territory became a major trans-Atlantic issue at the start of the year."

President Donald Trump posted an AI photo of himself in the Oval Office speaking to European leaders with a map of North and part of South America with the American flag covering not only the U.S. but Canada, Greenland and Venezuela.

The photo was likely taken during the leaders' visit to the White House in Aug. 2025, but the map on the stand beside the desk wasn't the one in the photo. According to an Instagram photo posted on the White House's page on Aug. 19, 2025, the map primarily features Eastern Ukrainian provinces and Crimea. The White House uploaded the original photo to its Flickr page, which was then added to the Wikimedia Commons.

Trump replaced the map with one of his "manifest destiny" maps, featuring the American flag imposed over Canada, Greenland and Venezuela. Each country has been part of Trump's ongoing efforts to have the U.S. take over countries.

Political experts and reporters noted that it appears Trump is growing bored with Iran again and seeking out Canada, Greenland and Venezuela to entertain him.

Former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum noted, "On this map, Mark Carney would be the front-runner for the 2028 Democratic nomination and very likely next president of the United States."

"Just in case Canada didn't already loathe Trump enough," said lawyer Scott Greenfield.

Researcher and psychologist Dr. Sam Youssef called the post "deranged" for covering Canada in American flags.

"There it is. Trump's boredom with his Iran war had already led back to attacking NATO and proposals to annex Greenland. Now he's remembered Canada, too," wrote Kyle Orton, who writes about terrorism and national security.

Canadian news editor Trevor Robb joked about the boycotts in Canada of U.S. goods. Including the Trump takeover map, Robb implied that Americans appear clueless as to why the boycotts happen: "Why won't Canada buy our booze??"

MAGA fans and Trump loyalists were convinced it was 100 percent real and laughed at what they perceived to be an international version of "owning" world leaders.

"President Trump posted this absolute gem: Him in the Oval Office surrounded by European leaders with a map of GREENLAND, CANADA and VENEZUELA being claimed as USA territory. Cue the meltdowns," said Eric Daugherty, the chief content officer at Right Line News, assuming the photo was real.

The account for Polymarket Intel that posts "breaking news & geopolitics," also assumed the map was real.

The Daily Wire posted it with a laughing-crying emoji and a skeleton skull emoji.

Russia Today also posted it, though it made it clear that the photo was "his doctored Oval Office photo."

"Wild post just now from Trump — appears to show August 18, 2025 WH meeting with Euro leaders The map shows Canada AND Venezuela colored in [with] American flag, more than 3 months before the Maduro raid," wrote White House correspondent Christian Datoc with the conservative Washington Examiner. He later noted he thought the map may have shown Cuba in red and blue as well.

"Trump has once again posted a picture of a meeting of NATO leaders in the Oval Office where the map on the easel was changed from Ukraine to the US. Canada, and Greenland covered with the American flag. Why now? Maybe we'll find out with Thursday's speech," said an anti-Trump protester, including the original photo.

There was an air of optimism at the beginning of the latest NATO summit, but according to Politico, allied leaders have "soured" after President Donald Trump used the occasion to revive his fixation with acquiring Greenland.

A minor curiosity during his first term, Trump's desire to annex Greenland as a U.S. territory exploded into a full-blown obsession during his second term, claiming that the acquisition is necessary for vague "national security" reasons and, at one point, refusing to rule out the use of military force to seize the island. The issue peaked early this year, with European allies staunchly refusing to support that idea, and warning that military action against Greenland, a sovereign territory of member nation Denmark, could cause NATO to implode for good.

During his visit to the ongoing NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland, despite previous reports that an understanding had been reached to bring about an end to the issue.

"Greenland … should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump remarked as the summit kicked off, later adding, "I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland."

Initially, visiting leaders expressed optimism about the summit, with Polish President Karol Nawrocki saying, "I’m sure that we will solve the problems around the many international issues," and NATO chief Mark Rutte stressing, "When it comes to Denmark and Greenland itself, we have a good process in place."

The U.S. president's comments appeared to blow up those good feelings, however, with Politico noting that leaders are now "sending a clear signal for Trump to back off."

“We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the press upon her arrival at the summit. “One of the reasons why we built NATO many, many years ago is if anything happens to one of us then everybody should stand up for each other.”

“That type of statement, that type of claim, Norway distances itself from,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. “We support Denmark, and we support stability in the Nordics.”

“The lines in the sand are clear: Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland,” Icelandic premier Kristrún Frostadóttir told reporters.

U.S. President Donald Trump, earlier this year, appeared to back down from his push for Greenland to become part of the United States. But after arriving in Ankara, Turkey on Tuesday, July 7, Trump appeared determined to reopen that old wound by reiterating his ideas for Greenland.

On X, Financial Times' Amy Mackinnon reported, "Two hours since he touched down in Ankara for the Nato summit and Trump has reiterated that he believes Greenland 'should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.' He went on to say that the US could remove 'all of our soldiers out of Europe,' claiming that the continent is 'a very different place than it was 20 years ago.'"

Trump's desire for Greenland to become part of the United States is a sore spot for other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) — especially Denmark.

After Trump, earlier this year, called for the U.S. to annex the Arctic island of Greenland — a colony of Denmark — other NATO countries made it clear that they were vehemently opposed to the idea. Mette Frederiksen emphasized that Greenland and Europe would decide the island's future, not Trump.

In January, Trump wouldn't rule out the possibility of the U.S. military taking Greenland by force, saying that the U.S. would acquire Greenland either the easy way or "the hard way" and that the annexation would happen "whether they like it or not." And Danish broadcaster DR reported that Denmark was quietly making preparations to protect Greenland militarily.

DR, in March, reported, "With the Greenland crisis, Europe realized once and for all that we need to be able to take care of our own security, says a top French official who has played a crucial role in the intense months and critical days of the Greenland crisis."

NATO officials warned that if the U.S. did try to take Greenland by force, it would mean the end of the 77-year-old alliance.

Trump seemed to back down from his threats against Greenland, but he continued to bring up the subject at times.

The 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara comes at a time when other NATO countries are not only troubled by Trump's threats against Greenland, but also, by the way he has handled the United States' war against Iran.

After going to war against Iran in late February and carrying out airstrikes against the country, Trump berated other NATO countries for not doing more to help him with the military operation.

President Donald Trump has renewed his efforts to take over Greenland, according to the Dutch publication "Ekstra Bladet."

In response to the article, European Parliament member Henrik Dahl posted on X, "I say: enough with the velvet gloves," noting that he's prepared to begin responding to the United States as if it were an adversary rather than an ally.

A Google-translated version of the article cites Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Gov. Jeff Landry (R-La.), saying in an interview that he had a discussion with the president about the matter recently.

"The president called me Saturday night and said we have to get Greenland," Landry said while speaking in an interview with "The Alex Marlow Show." He added that the U.S. president "hasn't forgotten."

Landry made it clear that the people of Greenland will be part of the United States and that he believes they want to join the U.S. too.

The special envoy said that he thinks they will likely send more military personnel "so we can repopulate our bases, by creating a direct shipping route between the U.S. and Greenland."

There's no land blocking Greenland from the United States, and direct flights from Newark go to the island a few times a week.

When Landry was in Greenland in May, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen made it clear in a press conference that Greenlandic society "must be respected."

In his statement on X, Dahl wrote that he's prepared to use the law and force.

"The U.S. Consulate in Nuuk should be closed. All American diplomats in Greenland should be expelled. Any American who sets foot on Danish soil and advocates that the United States should take over Greenland should be arrested and deported," he said.

Dahl also called on NATO to meet and prepare, saying that "a foreign state is attempting to alter the constitutional status of the Kingdom of Denmark."

He commented he wanted to end on a "friendly note," wishing the U.S. a happy 250th birthday.

"I only wish there were some American products we could throw into the harbor in Nuuk," he said, referring back to the Boston Tea Party, when the colonists rebelled against Britain by throwing tea into the harbor.

"By your actions leading up to July 4, 1776, you showed the rest of us exactly what one should do with an arrogant colonial power. Your example from back then remains an inspiration," Dahl closed.

President Donald Trump's long-running obsession with annexing Greenland is not about to get any closer to reality, per Politico, as the Danish leader who consistently snubbed his demands has retained power going forward.

On Monday, Politico reported that Mette Frederiksen will remain prime minister of Denmark for the foreseeable future. This came after "drawn-out negotiations lasting more than two months" for the creation of a new government, culminating in the creation of "center-left coalition government."

"The four-party coalition is expected to bring together Frederiksen’s Social Democrats, the Moderates, Green Left and the Social Liberals, according to the DR public broadcaster," Politico detailed. "The incoming PM met King Frederik X Monday evening to inform him."

“I think everyone will be surprised by how much we want to do. It is a government platform that is good both for the people in Denmark, for the generations to come, and for animals,” Frederiksen said in a statement.

Greenland is an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, and throughout Trump's pressure campaign to take control of the massive Arctic island, Frederiksen and her government have been staunch in their opposition. The prime minister has repeatedly asserted that Greenland is not for sale under any circumstances, with the government forming a task force to monitor mentions of the territory in the U.S. and bulking up security forces on it.

Trump renewed his efforts to try and take Greenland upon his return to the White House, asserting that his first-term musings about the idea were entirely serious. Reports from earlier this year suggested that his obsession with the territory might be largely to do with how big it tends to look on maps, an issue skewed by the Mercator Projection. As he pressed harder on the idea, he came close to setting off a major international incident when he refused to rule out using military force to seize Greenland, a nearly unthinkable idea for many experts, given that Denmark is a longtime member of NATO.

Speaking about Trump's threats, Frederiksen herself warned that an invasion of Greenland by the U.S. would effectively mark the end of NATO and the entire post-WWII global order.

"One should take the American president seriously when he says that he wants Greenland," Fredriksen said in a January interview with Danish broadcaster TV2. "If the US chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War."