U.S. President Donald Trump has described Greenland as the “greatest gift” the United States has ever received, referring to a defense agreement reached with Denmark and Greenland that expanded Washington’s military access to the strategically important Arctic territory.
Trump made the remarks during a call with Fox News on Tuesday, November 3, while discussing the U.S. midterm elections. The U.S. State Department later reshared a clip of the broadcast on X.
“Remember, [Europe] just gave the United States the greatest gift we were ever given. Do you know what it was? Greenland. We just got Greenland, you know that, right?” Trump said.
Another participant in the conversation quickly clarified that the president was referring to a military agreement.
Until September, Trump had repeatedly pushed for the United States to take control of Greenland, citing national security concerns and the island’s significant mineral resources.
His statements, including repeated refusals to rule out military force to acquire the territory, created serious tensions with European allies. His use of tariffs against countries opposing his ambitions further strained relations within NATO.
At the Alliance’s annual summit in July, Trump said Greenland should be controlled by the United States rather than Denmark, prompting warnings from European leaders that the territory was not for sale and that its future must be determined by its people.
The standoff ended in September, when Trump signed a defense agreement with the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark.
The agreement expands U.S. military access and presence in Greenland and provides NATO countries with exclusive access to mining opportunities, while recognizing Danish sovereignty and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and occupies a strategically important position in the Arctic, a region of growing military and economic significance.
Trump’s latest remarks appear to present the September agreement as a major achievement for Washington, although the deal does not transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the United States.
During the same Fox News conversation, Trump also expressed confidence about the midterm elections, saying he believed the results would be “better than you think.” Democrats are widely expected to make gains against the president’s Republican Party.
