Trump seeks to woo Greenland using World War II history
Apparently trying a soft push towards acquiring Greenland, US President Donald Trump posted a documentary-style video on X calling for renewed unity between the US and the island amid what he described as rising threats from Russia and China.
The Friday video, narrated over historical footage, cited World War II cooperation between the two.
"Greenland became an unwitting combatant, and the US stepped in, not to conquer, but to protect," the narrator said.
The story highlighted the 1943 torpedoing of a US military ship en route to Greenland, emphasizing the sacrifice of four American chaplains who gave up their life vests to save others.
Trump’s message drew on this history to argue for strategic alignment in the Arctic.
"Together, Americans and Greenlanders stood as sentinels at the top of the world," the narrator said, warning of “new threats, from Russian aggression and Chinese expansion.”
The video ended by saying: “Now is the time to stand together again. For peace, for security, for the future. America stands with Greenland.”
Polls of Greenlanders show a large majority are opposed to joining the United States.
The video came alongside US Vice JD Vance’s visit to Greenland, with a curbed schedule due to controversy, and days after Turmp told an interviewer: “We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it.”
He added: “I hate to put it that way, but we’re going to have to have it.”
