Game of Tariffs: Trump Incentivizes European Support for His Greenland Acquisition
With tariffs rattling the markets, European troops on the ice, grandiose U.S. senators trying to play peacemaker, and Trump’s envoys vowing that a deal is within reach, the next episode in this Arctic saga promises even more intrigue.
The saga of President Donald Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland for the U.S. continues with a new chapter entitled “Game of Tariffs.”
In my last report, I noted that a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance, and officials from Greenland and Denmark produced a new U.S.–Danish working group but left the core dispute between the U.S. and their Danish and Greenlandic counterparts unresolved.
Following this development, Trump said that he is considering imposing new tariffs on countries that do not support his push for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said at an unrelated event on rural health care at the White House.
His comments leave many questions about what it would mean with recent U.S. trade agreements struck with European allies, particularly those with the United Kingdom and European Union.
Trump’s tariff threat comes after European nations have voiced objections to Trump’s repeated messaging about taking over Greenland, either by buying the island territory or by using military force.
🚨New: President Trump has announced that he wants Greenland for National Security Purposes
Trump also hinted at placing high tariffs on Denmark if they don't agree to sell Greenland. pic.twitter.com/g495dIZ6Kb
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) January 7, 2025
Meanwhile, European powers respond by landing their own bannermen on the island. Troops from several European countries, including France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, are arriving in Greenland to help strengthen the Arctic island’s security.
The numbers being sent are absolutely astonishing.
“The first French military elements are already en route” and “others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, as French authorities said about 15 French soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise.
Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on Thursday, its Defense Ministry said.
Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland, with NATO allies joining them, just as the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met with White House representatives on Wednesday in Washington to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s intentions to take over the island in order to tap its mineral resources and protect the security of the Arctic region amid rising Russian and Chinese interest.
On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was “to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution,” according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system.
Europe is sending a total of 37 troops to Greenland to defend it from America.
America can literally take Greenland with 100 Troops.
The Europeans are seriously retarded pic.twitter.com/Mthtemi017
— David D. Chapman (@DavidD_Chapman) January 15, 2026
Amid the threat of tariffs and new troop deployments, our own legislators are adding to the drama. Ostensibly in a bid to cool the political climate that’s turned frosty during the high-stakes negotiations, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers met with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Copenhagen.
The 11-member U.S. delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen, as well as Danish and Greenlandic parliamentarians.
“There’s a lot of rhetoric, but there’s not a lot of reality in the current discussion in Washington,” Coons told reporters following the meetings, saying the lawmakers would seek to “lower the temperature” on returning home.
Of course, these senators absolutely had to go to Copenhagen to send this message on our dime…because there was no way to call, email, or Zoom their thoughts and support! (Sarcasm X 1,000,000).
Oh my…Looking forward to @realDonaldTrump’s reaction to this 🍿🤣
US lawmakers seek to reassure Copenhagen after Trump Greenland threats
The 11-member U.S. delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, was scheduled to meet Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and… https://t.co/8zCDocMMRD pic.twitter.com/JIjKfe2TSl
— LASHFORD (@LASHFORD_17) January 16, 2026
I would like to note that Special Envoy Jeff Landry has indicated that a deal can be done.
U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry told Fox News Friday that he believes a deal can be achieved on the U.S. acquiring Greenland and that he plans to visit the island in March.
“The president is serious. I think he’s laid the markers down. He’s told Denmark what he’s looking for, and now it’s a matter of having Secretary Rubio and Vice President JD Vance make a deal,” Landry said, according to the Reuters news agency.
Trump's Greenland special envoy Jeff Landry says "acquisition deal is possible."
Fox News interview comment: "I believe once things play out, a deal will be made."
"The president is serious. He set the benchmark and communicated what he wants to Denmark. Now it's up to… pic.twitter.com/rnsRRkDq0y
— Algorhythm (@Al_gorhythm) January 16, 2026
How this “Game of Tariffs” plays out next will be worth watching, as Trump’s bid for Greenland moves from dramatic opening moves to the hard grind of deals, deadlines, and diplomatic brinkmanship.
With tariffs rattling the markets, European troops on the ice, grandiose U.S. senators trying to play peacemaker, and Trump’s envoys vowing that a deal is within reach, the next episode in this Arctic saga promises even more intrigue.
Which house will claim the frozen prize, and how far is the President willing to go to make Greenland part of his legacy?
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Comments
I don’t know if this meme should stick. Ned Stark and his oldest son were both beheaded.
John Snow, however, was the few survivors.
Technically, (SPOILER) he died and came back to life. The antichrist arc is probably not the best move for Trump.
They can’t hate Trump anymore than they already do.
So behead the senators. No loss really.
How far? Rename the place ‘New America’, park an aircraft carrier off the coast, build a Winter Wonderland Resort complete with a 30 story hi rise emblazoned with TRUMP in big gold letters, then lease mineral rights for billions and let the mining commence.
American empire. What a concept.
Politicians play checkers while President Trump plays chess
Senators have no business being there. None. They are interfering with the executive branch’s execution of foreign policy – AGAIN.
Eurotrash troops have no business being there unless invited by Denmark. They also have no say as to whether any deal is done for Greenland. It is at present Danish territory only. They need to go fix their own countries.
This was my thought. At what point does the legislative branch overstep by interfering in the executive.
They are there to undermine the President. Sounds awfully seditious to me. Remember when Democrats treated that as a crime 🤣🤣
1) Trump is right about the need for this to protect the West.
2) Europe send Watching few troops is funny, they wouldn’t stand a chance..
3) This is revealing, a window into our fair weather friends character.
“Europe send Watching few troops is funny, they wouldn’t stand a chance..”
——————–
True, we could probably send a half dozen SEALS and tell to just slap the snot out of the euroweenies and it’s over and done in ten minutes.
You mean Orangeland?
“INCENTIVIZES”?? Shouldn’t “BLACKMAILS” be more precise?
When Trump acts like “gimme your land, or else”, it blurs the distinction between him and Putin. Do you want the US president to act like a thug?
For many years the government of Denmark has forced contraception on Indigenous women and girls. This mistreatment has not been forgotten by the natives and the majority are not in favor of continued Dutch rulership of their homeland.
Pardon my pedantry but do you mean Danes? The Dutch are from Holland.
.
Really screwed that one up. Worthy of two “thumbs down”. Feels like I’ve been stung by a hornet.
I thought liberals hated kings like the Danes have 😉