Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the elected US president, is set to visit Greenland today after his father once again expressed interest in purchasing the vast island.
The visit by Trump Jr. is private, according to Mininnguaq Kleist, Permanent Secretary of Greenland’s Foreign Ministry, who clarified that no meetings with representatives of Greenland’s government are scheduled. Kleist mentioned that they had not been informed about Trump Jr.’s programme, indicating it was a private visit. He added that Trump Jr. is expected to land in Greenland around 3:00 PM Greek time and stay for four to five hours.
A source familiar with the visit informed Reuters that Trump Jr. plans to film content for a podcast in Greenland and does not intend to meet with officials or politicians.
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of just 57,000, is rich in oil, gas, and mineral resources. However, its development is slow, and its residents rely heavily on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark. Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is geographically closer to New York than to Copenhagen.
The Foreign Ministry of Greenland stated that the island is open to visitors and welcomes anyone who wishes to explore it.
Donald Trump, ahead of his inauguration on January 20, announced on the social media platform Truth Social that his son would be accompanied by “representatives” during the visit. He claimed that Greenland’s people would benefit significantly if the island became part of the United States and promised that the US would protect and care for it. He also reiterated his aspiration to “make Greenland great again.”
His post included a video of a man, presented as a Greenland resident, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, expressing support for the island’s potential purchase by the US.
Trump initially expressed interest in purchasing Greenland during his first term (2017–2021), but the proposal was rejected by both Greenland and Denmark.
Shortly before Christmas, Trump argued that owning and controlling Greenland was essential for national security and global freedom. Greenland’s government, however, reiterated that the island was not for sale.
Last week, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, repeated his call for independence from Denmark, describing it as necessary to break colonial ties and build the island’s future. He made no mention of the United States in his address.
Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of Denmark’s parliament, expressed opposition to the idea, stating that Greenland should not be used as a tool in Trump’s aspirations to expand his influence.
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Photo source: newsweek.com
Source: ANA-MPA
