Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Greenland as US Lawmakers Seek to Ease Tensions

US President Donald Trump has said he may impose tariffs on countries that do not support the United States’ claim to control Greenland, even as a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress travelled to Denmark in an effort to reduce tensions over the issue.

According to international broadcaster Al Jazeera, since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly asserted that the United States should control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. Earlier this week, he described any outcome short of US control of the Arctic island as “unacceptable.”

Speaking on Friday during an unrelated White House event on rural health care, Trump recalled how he had previously threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals. “I may do that for Greenland too,” he said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.”

Trump has argued that Greenland is critical to US national security due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources, and he has not ruled out the use of force to gain control of the island. This marked the first time he publicly suggested using tariffs as leverage in the dispute.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the talks failed to resolve major disagreements, both sides agreed to establish a working group—though Denmark and the White House later offered differing accounts of its purpose.

European leaders have maintained that decisions regarding Greenland can only be made by Denmark and Greenland themselves. Denmark also announced this week that it is increasing its military presence on the island in coordination with allied nations. Several European countries have since deployed small contingents of military personnel to Greenland at Denmark’s request.