President Trump joked about what he wouldn’t do to Greenland if the U.S. purchased the island, tweeting out a photoshopped picture of a Trump Tower in the territory.
I promise not to do this to Greenland! pic.twitter.com/03DdyVU6HA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Trump confirmed the reports he has considered purchasing Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory, over the weekend, telling reporters it would be like a “large real estate deal.”
“A lot of things can be done. It’s hurting Denmark very badly because they're losing almost $700 million a year carrying it," he said. "So, they carry it at great loss, and strategically for the United States, it would be nice. And, we're a big ally of Denmark and we help Denmark, and we protect Denmark."
He did clarify, however, that "It’s not number one on the burner."
President Trump acknowledges discussing the U.S. potentially buying Greenland: "Essentially, it's a large real estate deal" https://t.co/H9n7JKbYS7 pic.twitter.com/l5ymJuseI3
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 18, 2019
The suggestion has been widely criticized by politicians in the region, with Denmark’s prime minister saying it’s “an absurd discussion” and Greenland’s foreign minister, Ane Lone, noting “we are open for business, but we’re not for sale.”
Eric Trump, however, said he loved the idea.