White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration is considering a “range of options” to acquire Greenland, including the U.S. military.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said, according to CNBC.
“The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” she continued.
Trump previously said the United States needs Greenland from a “national security” standpoint.
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JUST IN: President Trump is considering acquiring Greenland and utilizing the U.S. military if needed, according to Reuters.
The statement was made by the White House.
"President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United… pic.twitter.com/acuvymf4MY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 6, 2026
CNBC has more:
Trump has spoken frequently about absorbing both Greenland and Canada into the U.S., as well as the Panama Canal. The controversial comments have drawn international rebukes, though they were dismissed by some as unserious and unlikely to materialize in U.S. foreign policy.
ADVERTISEMENTThe president’s renewed discussion of Greenland has prompted more serious concerns in recent days, after the U.S. military entered Venezuela and successfully captured that country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Trump said after that operation that “we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
Trump also said that U.S. oil companies will enter Venezuela and “fix” the country’s energy infrastructure, and that those firms “will be reimbursed” for their efforts.
Trump told The Atlantic on Sunday morning that he will leave it up to others to decide what the intervention in Venezuela means for Greenland.
The White House’s comments follow reports of Greenland and Denmark requesting a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Denmark and Greenland have requested a meeting with Marco Rubio.
Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, wrote that the countries want to discuss "the significant statements made by the United States about Greenland."
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Fox News shared further:
The comments mark the clearest statement to date from the White House suggesting military force could be considered, as Trump renews pressure on Denmark over Greenland’s strategic role in U.S. defense and missile detection in the Arctic.
European leaders and Canada rallied behind Greenland on Tuesday following Trump’s renewed push to gain control of the Danish territory, according to Reuters. Leaders from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said Greenland belongs to its people and that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the island’s future.
Arizona Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego also announced Tuesday a bill to stop Trump from invading ‘another country on a whim’ over Greenland after Operation Absolute Resolve captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.
“What’s happening in Venezuela shows us that we can’t just ignore Trump’s reckless threats. His dangerous behavior puts American lives and our global credibility at risk. I’m introducing this amendment to make it clear that Congress will not bankroll illegal, unnecessary military action, and to force Republicans to choose whether they’re going to finally stand up or keep enabling Trump’s chaos,” Gallego said in a statement on the legislation.
ADVERTISEMENTLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was named as Trump’s special envoy to Greenland last month, said in an interview with CNBC that “security should be a major concern for the United States.”
