Rubio Told Lawmakers Trump Wants to Buy Greenland
📅 January 7, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that President Donald Trump has renewed his long-standing interest in purchasing Greenland, according to multiple people familiar with the discussion, reviving a proposal that once drew disbelief, ridicule, and firm rejection from Danish officials.
Rubio’s remarks, delivered during consultations with members of Congress on Arctic security and U.S. strategic priorities, signal that the idea—first floated publicly by Trump during his initial presidency—has returned as a serious subject of internal policy debate rather than a rhetorical aside.
While no formal offer has been made, officials said the administration is actively assessing the geopolitical, legal, and diplomatic implications of such a move.
A Strategic Argument, Not a Joke
Trump’s interest in Greenland is rooted in its strategic location and natural resources. The massive Arctic island sits astride key North Atlantic shipping routes and hosts a critical U.S. military presence at Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base.
Administration officials argue that Greenland’s importance has only increased as climate change opens new Arctic sea lanes and intensifies competition with Russia and China.
“This is about security and influence in the Arctic,” one official briefed on the talks said. “From the president’s perspective, control matters.”
Congressional Reaction: Skepticism and Alarm
Lawmakers reacted with a mix of surprise, skepticism, and concern. Several members of Congress questioned the legality of acquiring territory from a NATO ally without its consent, while others warned that pursuing the idea could severely strain relations with Denmark, which retains sovereignty over Greenland.
“This would be diplomatically explosive,” said one senior lawmaker, who described Rubio’s briefing as serious in tone but short on specifics.
Some Republicans, however, privately expressed openness to exploring the concept, framing it as a bold assertion of U.S. interests in a rapidly changing Arctic.
Denmark and Greenland Push Back
Danish officials have not publicly commented on Rubio’s briefing, but Copenhagen has previously dismissed any notion of selling Greenland outright. Greenland’s own leaders have been even more direct, repeatedly stating that the territory is not for sale and that its future must be determined by Greenlanders themselves.
Greenland operates as a self-governing territory with its own parliament, though Denmark controls defense and foreign policy. Any transfer of sovereignty would face enormous legal and political barriers, including opposition from Greenland’s population.
Echoes of 2019, With Higher Stakes
Trump’s original 2019 suggestion that the United States buy Greenland was widely mocked at the time and led to diplomatic friction, including the cancellation of a planned state visit to Denmark.
This time, analysts say, the context is different. Great-power competition in the Arctic has intensified, and Trump’s second term has been marked by a willingness to challenge diplomatic norms and revisit ideas once dismissed as unrealistic.
“Trump doesn’t see taboos,” said a former U.S. diplomat. “He sees leverage.”
What Happens Next
For now, officials stress that the idea remains exploratory. No negotiations have begun, and there is no indication Denmark or Greenland would entertain discussions.
Still, Rubio’s disclosure to lawmakers underscores that the proposal is being treated seriously at the highest levels of the administration—raising the prospect of another unconventional foreign-policy push from a president who has repeatedly shown a readiness to test boundaries.
Whether the idea advances or collapses under diplomatic pressure, it has already reopened an uncomfortable question for allies: how far the United States is willing to go to secure its interests in a warming, increasingly contested Arctic.
Sources: Reporting based on coverage by Reuters, The New York Times, and congressional briefings.
Tags:
Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump, Greenland, Denmark, U.S. Foreign Policy, Arctic Security, White House, Geopolitics
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