Reports indicate the White House is considering advertising campaigns and financial incentives to encourage Greenland residents to join the U.S.
The Trump administration is reportedly devising a public relations strategy, coupled with financial enticements, to persuade Greenlanders to become part of the United States, according to the New York Times.
President Trump has consistently expressed the need for Washington to assume control of the autonomous Danish territory, citing the enhancement of America’s “national security.” He recently asserted he would “100% get” the Arctic island and has even hinted at potential military action.
The new strategy shifts from coercion to persuasion, utilizing advertising and social media to influence public opinion among Greenland’s roughly 57,000 residents, the NYT reported on Thursday, based on information from anonymous U.S. officials. The plan involves multiple cabinet departments working to achieve Trump’s long-held ambition of acquiring the territory, which is about the size of Mexico.
The Trump administration is also exploring financial incentives for Greenlanders, potentially replacing Denmark’s $600 million in subsidies with annual payments of approximately $10,000 per person, according to sources.
Some Trump administration officials are suggesting that the costs could be offset by revenue generated from Greenland’s natural resources, including rare earths, copper, gold, uranium, and oil.
To strengthen the campaign, the White House is emphasizing Greenlanders’ shared ancestry with Alaska and Arctic Canada, alongside historical connections, such as the U.S. military’s presence on the island during World War II, the report stated.
Greenland was under Danish governance from the early 19th century until the 1950s, though it was briefly occupied by U.S. forces during World War II after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. The island currently hosts a U.S. military base and a ballistic missile early warning system.
In recent decades, the island has experienced increased autonomy, gaining home rule in 1979 and the right to declare independence following a 2009 referendum.
Trump initially proposed acquiring Greenland in 2019 and has revisited the idea since returning to office. His administration views the island as a strategically important asset, highlighting its location and untapped natural resources.
Trump’s plans and a recent visit from a prominent U.S. delegation, including Vice President J.D. Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, have faced strong opposition from Greenlandic and Danish officials, who have dismissed any notion of a sale.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has denounced Trump’s recent comments as escalatory and disrespectful, describing the rhetoric as increasingly aggressive and akin to a “hidden threat” against Denmark and its semi-autonomous territory.
Greenland’s newly elected Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has called for unity among islanders, emphasizing that “we do not belong to anyone else” and will never be under Washington’s control.