Could Donald Trump Take Greenland By Military Force?: He has cajoled. He has poked and prodded. He has whined. He has boasted.
This is classic Donald Trump.
No, he is not howling about war with Democrats; he is talking about acquiring Greenland, and like a junkyard dog, he won’t remove the bite he has on the island.
The poor inhabitants of Greenland never saw what was coming. Its people once lived peacefully, some of whom dreamed of independence from their Danish patriarchs, but now they are getting the full Trump treatment, and it isn’t pretty.
Greenland Has An Abundance of Natural Resource Riches
Greenland has oil, natural gas, and plethora of rich minerals that are needed for 21st century economies. It enjoys a strategic location and it is the gateway to the Arctic. Whoever controls it can call the shots in that region.
Despite Greenland and Denmark’s protest that the island is not for sale and will never succumb to the United States’ merger efforts, Trump is relentless. And he hasn’t taken the use of force off the table.
Using the military to take over Greenland would be foolhardy but easily done. The island has almost zero defenses and counts dog-mushing sled teams as part of its forces. So, the military take-over of Greenland is definitely doable with little loss of life. Greenland wouldn’t be able to fight back.
The Full Might of the U.S. Military Would Be on Display
This would mostly be a Navy and Marine Corps operation. Two Navy amphibious transport docks would do the trick. U.S. Navy SEALs would prep the landing zone. Then the Marines would storm the ports and beaches. This would be followed by an Army force of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers that could seize the airstrips and take over main roads and highways. Then the Air Force would enforce a no-fly zone over the island against the Danish. Marines would occupy the cities and disarm any military resistance.
The United States would insert a government that is loyal to America. Other U.S. ships – even an aircraft carrier strike group – could be sent to protect the ocean around Greenland. And presto, Trump would have his island.
Trump Could Be Impeached and Removed
But this is politically and diplomatically impossible. Congress would howl in protest and invoke the War Powers Resolution that limits the time the military could inhabit the island. Denmark could declare a NATO emergency and go to the United Nations to condemn the attack. Europeans and Americans would take to the streets and protest the action. Trump could even be impeached for his dastardly deed.
Who Could Talk the President Out of a Greenland Attack?
Trump is undeterred and rest assured that he may have already asked his national security teams for military options versus Greenland. He could take it with force, but is that really the solution? This could be the most consequential action of his political career and would ruin his presidency.
When the late Secretary of State Colin Powell was trying to convince President George W. Bush to refrain from invading Iraq in 2002, he famously said that Iraq was like a Pottery Barn store, whatever you break you own. Powell told Bush his presidency would always be judged by what happened in Iraq. Bush was risking his presidency unnecessarily, Powell believed.
Then Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki of the Army told the Bush White House that he would need several hundreds of thousands of troops for the invasion – many more than what was being planned by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Shinseki was scorned, ignored, and ended up quietly retiring.
If Trump used military force he would likely have many admirals and generals resign in protest for the president violating the taboo on giving unlawful orders. The military does not have to follow illegal instructions from the president. But he could have enough support from more loyal and compliant flag officers to make the invasion happen.
However, the military option is too dangerous politically and is definitely unwise. Nevertheless, Trump will continue to jawbone and intimidate the Greenlanders and the Danes. A recent visit to Greenland by Vice President JD Vance and his wife was only moderately successful and did not change any minds.
Vance did say military force would not be necessary. Trump can still use diplomacy to get some kind of concession.
That would likely be more U.S. military installations on Greenland and permission for American oil companies to extract hydrocarbons from the island, although these fossil fuel efforts have been tried and it has failed in the past.
Trump could also make other financial arguments for enhanced economic and trade partnerships with the island. A financial partnership would be better than a foolhardy use of military force.
A U.S.-Greenland Merger Would Be a Strategic Masterstroke
But Greenland is a jewel in the rough. Getting control of the island peacefully would be a strategic masterstroke by Trump and it could happen in our lifetime after his presidency. It is a forward-thinking idea that strengthens U.S. power in the Arctic. There are high levels of natural resources and there could be more American military bases. The people on the island would eventually like being part of the United States. Denmark and Europe would just have to get used to it. It must be done peacefully and without military force or all hell would break loose and ruin Trump’s legacy. He could even be impeached for the third time and finally removed from the White House before his term is up if he took Greenland by force.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
Richard Grace
April 2, 2025 at 3:46 pm
I think you’re a bit sanguine about *this* Congress howling, much less impeaching, to be frank. I think we have ample evidence about how supine the current legislative branch is.
Otherwise, this is a really good summary of what a repulsive event like this would look like.
Geoffrey Sowash
April 2, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Why did you end by saying that a peaceful merger would be a strategic masterstroke?!! Trump’s idea of a peaceful demonstration was the sacking of the US Congress in early January, 2021. What makes you think he’d be any less mendacious about how “peaceful” any “merger” might be? Not a good idea to float reckless ideas around an arrested development personality.