“We need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” a CNBC report cited Trump as saying during a health-care-related event at the White House.
These remarks highlight Trump’s readiness to use tariffs as a tool of foreign policy, a strategy he has consistently employed to exert pressure on both allies and adversaries. His comments imply that economic coercion could be leveraged to further Washington’s interests in the Arctic.
The White House has not immediately responded to CNBC’s request for clarification on Trump’s statements.
The Trump administration has previously recognized that multiple options are being considered to secure control of Greenland, including the potential use of the US military. Trump has emphasized that American ownership of the Danish territory is crucial due to security threats posed by China and Russia, even though the US already has a significant military presence on the island.
Washington has also considered the possibility of purchasing Greenland, a notion firmly rejected by both the Greenlandic government and Denmark, which have repeatedly insisted that the territory is not for sale and does not wish to be annexed by the United States.
Trump’s tariff threat regarding Greenland coincided with similar comments he made at the same event concerning drug pricing. He mentioned he had warned leaders of various countries that if they did not agree to raise drug prices under a “most favored nations” framework, they would face substantial tariffs on all exports to the US.
“I may do that for Greenland too. I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” the report further quoted Trump.
A delegation from Greenland and Denmark, after meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Thursday, reported a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump’s stance.
Since resuming office, Trump has significantly increased the use of tariffs, raising the average US tariff rate to an estimated 17%. Many of these tariffs were enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a decision currently under legal challenge and awaiting a ruling from the US Supreme Court.
Trump has warned that his broader economic strategy could collapse if the court rules against him. “I hope we win the Supreme Court case, because if we don’t, [it’d] be a shame for our country,” the report indicated.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
First Published: Jan 16, 2026 11:11 PM IST
