U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Florida to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
During his first presidency, Donald Trump was often described as an "isolationist" whose "America First" outlook rejected the hawkish views of neocons and echoed Patrick Buchanan's paleoconservative ideology. But during his second term, Trump has taken an imperialistic turn — from pushing for regime change in Venezuela to wanting to annex both Greenland and Canada. Outgoing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), a MAGA firebrand turned Trump critic, believes that Trump is now betraying the "America First" platform he campaigned on in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Early Saturday morning, January 3, the news broke that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and taken him to New York City — where he is now being held in a detention center. Meanwhile, Trump is doubling down on his desire to acquire Greenland, a colony of Denmark. Both Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen are adamantly opposed.
In a Sunday, January 4 post on Facebook, Nielsen called Trump out — writing, "No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law."
Euro News' Aleksandar Brezar reports that the Trump Administration's "unprecedented operation in Venezuela" and "capture of Nicolas Maduro" has " reignited fears for Greenland."
On Air Force One, Trump told reporters, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it. You know what Denmark did recently to boost up security in Greenland? They added one more dog sled. It's true. They thought that was a great move."
Frederiksen, meanwhile, is joining Nielsen in calling Trump out.
In an official statement, the Danish prime minister said, "I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland."
Frederiksen called for Trump to quit "threatening its historic ally," pointing out that Denmark — "and thus Greenland" — is, along with the United States, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Brezar notes, "European leaders have repeatedly warned Trump against threatening sovereign borders after he refused to rule out military force to take Greenland. France on Monday, (January 5), expressed its 'solidarity' with Denmark following U.S. President Donald Trump's fresh threats to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. 'Borders cannot be changed by force,' French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told television channel TF1."
