Trump’s threat marked a further escalation in his campaign to take control of the island, which is territory of U.S. ally Denmark.
‘Tariff king’ Trump threatens to impose tariffs on Greenland
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries to pressure them into accepting the U.S. annexation of Greenland.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, who calls himself the “tariff king,” has threatened to impose tariffs on other countries to pressure them into accepting the U.S. annexation of Greenland.
President Trump has asserted control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark, arguing that it is vital for mineral wealth and shipping routes to the Arctic. But his proposal sparked an international firestorm, with opposition from the leaders of Denmark and Greenland, other parts of Europe, and bipartisan members of parliament.
President Trump’s comments came at a White House health care event and trumpeted how the threat of tariffs has forced other developed countries to accept higher drug prices to lower U.S. drug prices.
President Trump said on January 16: “I might do that with Greenland. I might put tariffs on countries that don’t agree with Greenland because we need Greenland for our national security. I might do that.”
He did not elaborate on the amount of the tariffs or on which countries they would be imposed. But the tariffs he has already imposed have led to a suspension of trade with China, opening the door to trade with other countries and putting pressure on companies to invest more in U.S. factories.
The Supreme Court could rule at any time on the legality of President Trump’s unilaterally imposed tariffs around the world that have collected hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes on foreign imports.
“I’m the tariff king, and the tariff king has done a great job,” President Trump said. “I hope we win in the Supreme Court, because if we don’t, it will be a disgrace to this country.”
Denmark’s top diplomat met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 14, but the allies said they were at an impasse. Officials from both countries are expected to meet again every few weeks to continue negotiations.
“We were unable to change the US position,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said. “It’s clear that the president has a desire to conquer Greenland. We’ve made it very clear that this is not in the kingdom’s interests.”
