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Ongoing story / Greenland

Trump's push to acquire Greenland

Overview · reviewed November 5, 2026

President Donald Trump spent nearly two years pressing for US control of Greenland, the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island that is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a ally.[1][2] He refused to rule out military force and threatened on European countries that opposed him, while Greenland's and Denmark's leaders said repeatedly that the island was not for sale.[3][4][2] In September 2026 Trump signed an agreement with Greenland and Denmark that expands the US military presence on the island but stops short of making it American territory.[5][6]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

He refused to rule out military force and threatened on European countries that opposed him, while Greenland's and Denmark's leaders said repeatedly that the island was not for sale.[3][4][2] In September 2026 Trump signed an agreement with Greenland and Denmark that expands the US military presence on the island but stops short of making it American territory.[5][6]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2024-12-23 (UTC): 25%, 48 of 192 tracked outlets (15 left, 17 center, 16 right)Week of 2024-12-30 (UTC): 1%, 1 of 195 tracked outlets (0 left, 1 center, 0 right)Week of 2025-01-06 (UTC): 34%, 75 of 221 tracked outlets (21 left, 35 center, 19 right)Week of 2025-01-13 (UTC): 7%, 16 of 228 tracked outlets (3 left, 8 center, 5 right)Week of 2025-01-20 (UTC): 3%, 7 of 226 tracked outlets (2 left, 2 center, 3 right)Week of 2025-01-27 (UTC): 9%, 21 of 223 tracked outlets (2 left, 10 center, 9 right)Week of 2025-02-03 (UTC): 3%, 5 of 190 tracked outlets (3 left, 1 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-02-10 (UTC): 5%, 10 of 214 tracked outlets (3 left, 3 center, 4 right)Week of 2025-02-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-02-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-03-03 (UTC): 7%, 15 of 202 tracked outlets (4 left, 8 center, 3 right)Week of 2025-03-10 (UTC): 17%, 34 of 198 tracked outlets (10 left, 15 center, 9 right)Week of 2025-03-17 (UTC): 5%, 10 of 195 tracked outlets (3 left, 2 center, 5 right)Week of 2025-03-24 (UTC): 28%, 55 of 194 tracked outlets (14 left, 30 center, 11 right)Week of 2025-03-31 (UTC): 15%, 30 of 205 tracked outlets (7 left, 19 center, 4 right)Week of 2025-04-07 (UTC): 8%, 15 of 194 tracked outlets (4 left, 5 center, 6 right)Week of 2025-04-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-04-21 (UTC): 2%, 5 of 206 tracked outlets (2 left, 3 center, 0 right)Week of 2025-04-28 (UTC): 1%, 3 of 204 tracked outlets (1 left, 0 center, 2 right)Week of 2025-05-05 (UTC): 9%, 18 of 201 tracked outlets (5 left, 11 center, 2 right)Week of 2025-05-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-05-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-05-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-02 (UTC): 2%, 3 of 189 tracked outlets (1 left, 1 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-06-09 (UTC): 6%, 12 of 199 tracked outlets (6 left, 2 center, 4 right)Week of 2025-06-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-25 (UTC): 15%, 30 of 199 tracked outlets (7 left, 15 center, 8 right)Week of 2025-09-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-15 (UTC): 3%, 5 of 191 tracked outlets (2 left, 3 center, 0 right)Week of 2025-09-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-22 (UTC): 27%, 37 of 139 tracked outlets (11 left, 20 center, 6 right)Week of 2025-12-29 (UTC): 1%, 1 of 166 tracked outlets (0 left, 1 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-01-05 (UTC): 33%, 66 of 198 tracked outlets (19 left, 28 center, 19 right)Week of 2026-01-12 (UTC): 40%, 77 of 191 tracked outlets (21 left, 35 center, 21 right)Week of 2026-01-19 (UTC): 52%, 89 of 170 tracked outlets (24 left, 41 center, 24 right)Week of 2026-01-26 (UTC): 4%, 7 of 189 tracked outlets (1 left, 3 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-02-02 (UTC): 10%, 17 of 177 tracked outlets (4 left, 10 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-02-09 (UTC): 10%, 18 of 180 tracked outlets (5 left, 10 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-02-16 (UTC): 8%, 14 of 178 tracked outlets (4 left, 4 center, 6 right)Week of 2026-02-23 (UTC): 4%, 7 of 186 tracked outlets (0 left, 4 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-03-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-23 (UTC): 5%, 9 of 170 tracked outlets (1 left, 7 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-03-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-06 (UTC): 14%, 80 of 560 tracked outlets (18 left, 32 center, 30 right)Week of 2026-07-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): under 1%, 2 of 537 tracked outlets (1 left, 1 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-08-10 (UTC): under 1%, 2 of 545 tracked outlets (0 left, 1 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-08-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-31 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-07 (UTC): 5%, 26 of 480 tracked outlets (6 left, 16 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-09-14 (UTC): 17%, 80 of 480 tracked outlets (20 left, 33 center, 27 right)Week of 2026-09-21 (UTC): 17%, 83 of 479 tracked outlets (16 left, 38 center, 29 right)Week of 2026-09-28 (UTC): 1%, 7 of 476 tracked outlets (3 left, 3 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-10-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-12 (UTC): 8%, 40 of 476 tracked outlets (5 left, 23 center, 12 right)Week of 2026-10-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-02 (UTC): 2%, 11 of 471 tracked outlets (2 left, 7 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-11-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outlets, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings.We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (41 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 2, 202627211 of 4712%
Oct 12, 20265231240 of 4768%
Sep 28, 20263317 of 4761%
Sep 21, 202616382983 of 47917%
Sep 14, 202620332780 of 48017%
Sep 7, 2026616426 of 4805%
Aug 10, 20260112 of 545under 1%
Aug 3, 20261102 of 537under 1%
Jul 6, 202618323080 of 56014%
Mar 23, 20261719 of 1705%
Feb 23, 20260437 of 1864%
Feb 16, 202644614 of 1788%
Feb 9, 2026510318 of 18010%
Feb 2, 2026410317 of 17710%
Jan 26, 20261337 of 1894%
Jan 19, 202624412489 of 17052%
Jan 12, 202621352177 of 19140%
Jan 5, 202619281966 of 19833%
Dec 29, 20250101 of 1661%
Dec 22, 20251120637 of 13927%
Sep 15, 20252305 of 1913%
Aug 25, 2025715830 of 19915%
Jun 9, 202562412 of 1996%
Jun 2, 20251113 of 1892%
May 5, 2025511218 of 2019%
Apr 28, 20251023 of 2041%
Apr 21, 20252305 of 2062%
Apr 7, 202545615 of 1948%
Mar 31, 2025719430 of 20515%
Mar 24, 202514301155 of 19428%
Mar 17, 202532510 of 1955%
Mar 10, 20251015934 of 19817%
Mar 3, 202548315 of 2027%
Feb 10, 202533410 of 2145%
Feb 3, 20253115 of 1903%
Jan 27, 2025210921 of 2239%
Jan 20, 20252237 of 2263%
Jan 13, 202538516 of 2287%
Jan 6, 202521351975 of 22134%
Dec 30, 20240101 of 1951%
Dec 23, 202415171648 of 19225%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 2, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    Greenland approves security deal with Denmark and US following months of Trump's pressure

Background

In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump spoke of US "ownership and control" of Greenland, which has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years; its leader replied that it was not for sale.[2] In January 2025 Trump said he would not rule out using military force to take Greenland or the Panama Canal,[3] and his son Donald Trump Jr. made a private visit to the island.[7] Greenland's prime minister said its people did not want to be Americans but that he was open to more cooperation.[8] Trump reportedly had a "fiery" call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen,[9] and Denmark announced $2 billion in new Arctic defense spending.[10] Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the interest was driven by concern about China's activity in the Arctic.[11] Trump's push to take back the Panama Canal is followed separately.

Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)

Greenlanders pushed back. A pro-business opposition party won the island's March 2025 election, a race dominated by Trump's threat and calls for independence from Denmark.[12] Greenland's prime minister called a planned visit by US officials, including second lady Usha Vance, "highly aggressive";[13] Vice President JD Vance decided to join it, and the itinerary was scaled back.[14] Greenland's new leader said "we do not belong to anyone,"[1] and Frederiksen told the US "you cannot annex another country."[15] The commander of the US Space Force base in Greenland was fired after an email that broke with official messaging after Vance's visit.[16] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon had plans to take Greenland by force if necessary,[17] and Denmark summoned the top US diplomat over reports of covert influence operations linked to people connected to Trump.[18] In December Trump named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a to Greenland.[19]

The confrontation peaked in January 2026. Frederiksen said a US takeover would mean the end of NATO,[20] and the White House said military action was an option.[21] Greenlandic and Danish officials met Vance and Rubio in Washington,[22] several NATO countries sent small numbers of troops for exercises with Denmark,[23] and thousands rallied in Danish cities.[24] Trump announced new tariffs on several European countries until a deal for the purchase of Greenland was reached,[4] and Norway released texts in which he linked his stance to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize.[25] Days later he called off the tariffs after saying he had agreed with NATO's leader on the "framework of a future deal" on Arctic security; Denmark said its sovereignty was not negotiable.[26][27] NATO then launched an Arctic Sentry military effort.[28]

Trump raised Greenland again at the NATO summit in July, and Frederiksen said Denmark was "ready to defend" it.[29] On September 22, Trump signed a 10-page agreement with Greenland and Denmark.[5] Experts said it made small changes to a 1951 treaty governing the US military's presence on the island, keeping non-NATO countries out,[6] and it fell short of his demands to make Greenland American territory.[5] In October Trump said "massive" oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland was about to begin.[30] In November, Greenlandic lawmakers approved the agreement.[31]

Supporting stories (31)
  1. Greenland prime minister says US will not get Greenland in response to Trump's repeated claims
  2. Donald Trump says US ownership of Greenland is 'an absolute necessity'
  3. Trump won’t rule out military action for Panama Canal and Greenland
  4. Trump pauses Greenland-linked tariffs on 8 European countries
  5. Denmark, at UN, says Greenland pact benefits all parties involved
  6. Trump signs Greenland security pact
  7. Donald Trump Jr. to visit Greenland as his father muses anew about the US taking control of it
  8. Greenland's leader says his people don't want to be Americans as Trump covets territory
  9. Trump again demands to buy Greenland in ‘horrendous’ call with Danish PM
  10. Denmark gives military $2-billion boost amid Greenland threat
  11. Rubio says Trump’s Greenland bid ‘not a joke,’ citing China risk
  12. Greenland’s center-right opposition wins closely watched election dominated by Trump’s annexation threat
  13. Second lady Usha Vance will visit Greenland as Trump talks up US takeover
  14. Vance and wife to tour US military post in Greenland after diplomatic spat over uninvited visit
  15. Danish leader tells the US ‘you cannot annex another country’ as she visits Greenland
  16. Head of US Space Force base in Greenland is fired after Vance visit
  17. Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary
  18. Denmark summons US envoy after report of Americans carrying out influence operations in Greenland
  19. Trump announces he's appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as US special envoy to Greenland
  20. Danish Prime Minister Says a US Takeover of Greenland Would Mark the End of NATO
  21. Trump administration says military "always an option" to acquire Greenland
  22. Vance, Rubio set to meet Danish officials amid Trump's threats to 'acquire' Greenland
  23. European troops arrive in Greenland as talks with US highlight 'disagreement' over island's future
  24. Thousands protest against Trump’s Greenland takeover threats
  25. Trump: Stance on Greenland is due to not getting Nobel Peace Prize
  26. US stocks climb some more after Trump calls off his tariffs for Greenland
  27. Greenland's sovereignty not up for negotiation, Denmark says after Trump eases threats
  28. NATO launches Arctic Sentry military effort in seeking to move on from Greenland dispute
  29. Trump blasts NATO for rejecting his efforts to claim Greenland as leaders hold a summit in Turkey
  30. Trump: Greenland oil, gas, mineral exploration to begin
  31. Greenland approves security deal with Denmark and US following months of Trump pressure

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 76 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Greenland approves security deal with Denmark and US following months of Trump pressureHeadline from KAAL Rochester · 13 outlets

October 2026

  1. Trump: Greenland oil, gas, mineral exploration to beginHeadline from The Columbian · 43 outlets

September 2026

  1. Denmark, at UN, says Greenland pact benefits all parties involvedHeadline from MyNorthwest · 6 outlets
  2. The U.S.–Greenland Deal.Headline from Tangle · 3 outlets
  3. Trump's Greenland Agreement Is the 'Art of the Deal' in ActionHeadline from PJ Media · 13 outlets
  4. Trump signs Greenland security pactHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 115 outlets
  5. Trump posts map with American flag emblazoned over Canada, Greenland, MexicoHeadline from The Hill · 11 outlets
  6. EU pledges Greenland investments amid Trump's push for controlHeadline from Billings Gazette · 17 outlets

August 2026

  1. Greenland forces Trump-linked US oil firm to delay drillingHeadline from The Guardian · 6 outlets

July 2026

  1. Trump blasts NATO for rejecting his efforts to claim Greenland as leaders hold a summit in TurkeyHeadline from Jonesboro Sun · 83 outlets

March 2026

  1. Trump and Greenland loom over Denmark’s snap election, but voters appear focused on other issues. Here’s what to knowHeadline from KEYT Santa Barbara · 11 outlets

February 2026

  1. Greenland says ‘no thank you’ to Trump’s hospital boat ideaHeadline from FOX 5 New York · 21 outlets
  2. Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump's push to gain control of Greenland: PollHeadline from FOX 6 Milwaukee · 7 outlets
  3. NATO launches Arctic Sentry military effort in seeking to move on from Greenland disputeHeadline from Seattle Times · 15 outlets
  4. France and Canada open consulates in Greenland amid Trump threatsHeadline from CNN · 20 outlets

January 2026

  1. Danish veterans protest outside U.S. Embassy over Greenland, combat contributionsHeadline from CBS News · 6 outlets
  2. Neil Young offers Greenland free access to his music catalog to ease 'stress' from Trump threatsHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 6 outlets
  3. Trump's Claims About GreenlandHeadline from FactCheck.org · 77 outlets
  4. Greenland's sovereignty not up for negotiation, Denmark says after Trump eases threatsHeadline from NBC News · 9 outlets
  5. US stocks climb some more after Trump calls off his tariffs for GreenlandHeadline from KVOA Tucson · 7 outlets
  6. Trump: Stance on Greenland is due to not getting Nobel Peace PrizeHeadline from FOX 5 New York · 51 outlets
  7. Thousands protest against Trump’s Greenland takeover threatsHeadline from Newsweek · 22 outlets
  8. European nations condemn tariff threat over GreenlandHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 60 outlets
  9. Starmer says a trade war is in no one’s interest after Trump’s Greenland tariff threat - Boston News, Weather, SportsHeadline from WHDH Boston · 8 outlets
  10. Trump pauses Greenland-linked tariffs on 8 European countriesHeadline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · 40 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →