‘We're going to do one thing on Greenland whether or not they prefer it or not’

[ad_1] U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters, as he attends a gathering with oil trade executives, on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., Jan. 9, 2026.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

President Donald Trump mentioned Friday his administration will take motion on Greenland "whether or not they prefer it or not," additional escalating his rhetoric as he pushes to amass the Danish territory for the U.S.

"I wish to make a deal, you recognize, the simple method. But when we do not do it the simple method, we will do it the laborious method," Trump informed reporters on the White Home.

The feedback got here throughout a gathering with oil executives to debate the prospect of doing enterprise in Venezuela . Lower than every week earlier, the U.S. navy invaded the oil-rich South American nation and captured its chief, Nicolás Maduro.

Trump has lengthy sought to take over Greenland, primarily citing the Arctic island's significance for U.S. nationwide safety.

Denmark and its European allies in NATO – the navy alliance co-founded by the U.S. – have pushed again, reiterating that Greenland is not for sale . However the Trump administration however says it's at present weighing a spread of choices on Greenland, together with using the U.S. military or slicing a deal to buy it from Denmark.

Learn extra CNBC protection on Greenland Authorities officers have additionally mulled sending lump sums of money to Greenlanders with a view to sway them to hitch the U.S., Reuters reported Thursday.

Requested on Friday how a lot these funds might be, Trump mentioned, "I am not speaking about cash for Greenland, but."

"I'd speak about that, however proper now we're going to do one thing on Greenland, whether or not they prefer it or not," Trump mentioned.

"As a result of if we do not do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor," he mentioned.

Trump mentioned that whereas he's a "large fan" of Denmark, "the truth that that they had a ship land there 500 years in the past does not imply that they personal the land. [I'm] certain we had a lot of boats go there additionally."