President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the international community, suggesting potential tariff impositions on nations that refuse to endorse his controversial proposal for the United States to acquire Greenland. The declaration came during a White House press briefing on Friday as the President prepared to depart for Florida.
“I may implement tariffs on countries should they fail to support our position regarding Greenland, which we consider vital for national security interests,” Trump stated, though he provided no specific details regarding which nations might be targeted or the proposed tariff rates.
This latest development follows Wednesday’s high-level diplomatic meeting between American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials that concluded with what sources describe as a “fundamental disagreement” regarding the future status of the massive Arctic territory. The discussions involved US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
Greenland currently operates as a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen maintaining control over defense and foreign policy matters. The United States already maintains strategic military installations on the island, including Thule Air Base, which has served as a crucial early warning radar site since the Cold War era.
The Trump administration has demonstrated an increasing willingness to employ economic measures, including tariffs, as instruments of foreign policy beyond traditional trade disputes. Since returning to office in 2025, the administration has expanded tariff implementations to address issues ranging from fentanyl trafficking and sanctions enforcement against Iran to water rights negotiations with Mexico.
The President’s persistent interest in acquiring Greenland—which he has reportedly described as a “large real estate deal”—has created diplomatic tensions with Denmark, a longstanding NATO ally. The Danish government has consistently maintained that Greenland is not for sale or transfer.