By WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump refused on Saturday to rule out military force. He is determined to acquire Greenland. He said he had an obligation to pursue ownership of the Danish territory. That territory has rebuffed his advances.
“We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” Trump said, according to the news outlet.
Vance heaped criticism on Denmark during his Friday visit. He accused the country of lagging on security. He claimed that Greenland was left open to invasion from Russia and China. He encouraged the people of Greenland to break away from Denmark. This would create space for the United States to have a conversation with the territory about acquiring it.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures, before boarding Air Force One as he departs for Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque© Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS
He told reporters after that he was not signaling a change in the administration’s policy. Rather, he said, he was emphasizing that Trump believes the United States can take over Greenland without using military force.
“We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance said at Pituffik Space Base.
Asked about the comments during the NBC interview, Trump recommitted to taking control of the island. He said there’s a “good possibility” that the United States can do it without the assistance of the military.
“No, I never take military force off the table. But I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without military force,” Trump said. “We have an obligation to protect the world. This is world peace, this is international security. And I have that obligation while I’m president. No, I don’t take anything off the table.”
Vance visited Trump administration officials with his wife, Usha. This visit replaced a multiday trip. The second lady had planned to make the trip without her husband. The original schedule was scrapped. Greenland’s former prime minister called the move “highly aggressive.” He also called it a “provocation,” and the government said the U.S. delegation was not invited to tour the island.
The vice president and U.S. officials, including Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz, instead visited the military base.
‘Highly aggressive:’ Trump says Greenland officials invited US delegation. Greenland says that’s not true.
In his remarks, Vance said Denmark had “underinvested” in the security of Greenland.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” he said. “That has to change. And because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, responded to Vance on X after the visit. He explained in a video on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that his country can take criticism. However, Denmark does not “appreciate the tone” of the Trump administration’s comments about his country.
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He invited the United States to work with Denmark to enhance its military presence in Greenland.
Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also said the comments showed a “lack of respect” for the island.
Denmark is a NATO ally and Greenland’s residents say they are opposed to becoming a part of the United States.
Still, the U.S. president has pressed ahead. “We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security. We have to have Greenland,” he said on Friday at the White House.
Asked by NBC what message acquiring Greenland would send to Russia, Trump responded. Russia has sought to expand its own territorial footprint. He added that he doesn’t really think about that. I don’t really care. Greenland’s a very separate subject, very different. It’s international peace. It’s international security and strength.
Trump talks ‘Signalgate’ and tariffs
Trump also said Saturday that he still has confidence in his national security team. This follows the explosive revelation that Waltz inadvertently included the editor of The Atlantic in a text chain. In this text chain, officials discussed an attack on Houthi militants in Yemen before it happened.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of the strike in a group chat on Signal. Signal is an encrypted text messaging app. He shared it with Waltz, Vance, and other senior officials in the Trump administration.
“I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” Trump told NBC News Saturday.
The administration has acknowledged that a journalist was accidentally added to the conversation. However, they denied that any of the information discussed was classified.
The U.S. president also said he “couldn’t care less” if automakers raise vehicle prices because of his 25% tariff on imports. He believes “people are gonna buy American-made cars” if the prices on foreign vehicles increase.
He also said he would move ahead with far-reaching duties. These duties are due to take effect April 2. He would only reconsider if affected countries offer him something in return.
“Only if people are willing to give us something of great value. Because countries have things of great value, otherwise, there’s no room for negotiation,” Trump said.
