Greenland is Trump's participation trophy

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 01.29.26

On July 28, 2025, Trump announced a trade deal with the European Union (EU), our largest trading partner. He said it would “benefit American industry, workers, and national security for generations.” Trump called it “the biggest deal ever made.”

On Jan. 21, 2026, the EU suspended the deal, citing Trump’s “continued and escalating threats, including tariff threats, against Greenland, Denmark, and their European allies.”

Trump said if he doesn’t take Greenland, “Russia or China will.” Greenland belongs to Denmark, one of 32 NATO nations that already defend Greenland. Sen. Thom Tillis called Trump’s rationale “insane.”

Greenland’s Prime Minister said, “We choose Denmark.” Denmark’s Prime Minister said, “Greenland is not for sale.” He added, “An American takeover of Greenland would be the end of NATO.”

On January 7, Trump told the New York Times, “It may be a choice” between obtaining Greenland and preserving NATO. Reporter David Sanger noted that Denmark already allows the U.S. to station troops in Greenland, but Trump said, “Ownership is very important.” Asked why, Trump replied, “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.” When reporter Katie Rogers posed the crucial question — “Psychologically important to you or to the United States?” — Trump’s damning admission was, “Psychologically important for me. Maybe another president would feel differently, but so far, I’ve been right about everything.”

Trump is hurting American workers to stroke his ego. In a Jan. 18 letter to Norway’s Prime Minister, Trump demanded “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” and blurted out the ugly, infantile truth: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

At Davos on Jan. 21, Trump said “we will remember” if Europe doesn’t give him Greenland, which he mindlessly called “Iceland” four times!

The most powerful military in history is in the hands of an out-of-control, tantrum-throwing child who didn’t get the prize he always wanted.

Rich Cooper

Leland