Trump makes argument for acquisition of Greenland as VP Vance prepares to visit

President Donald Trump reiterated his argument for the U.S. taking over Greenland on Wednesday, just before Vice President JD Vance is set to visit the island.

Trump said his administration must “let them know that we need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it.” Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, will visit a U.S. space facility based on the island.

“It’s [an] island from a defensive posture and even offensive posture is something we need.… When you look at the ships going up their shore by the hundreds, it’s a busy place,” he added, speaking in an interview with radio host Vince Coglianese.

Trump went on to say that he is unsure whether the people of Greenland want to become U.S. citizens, but he argued it is important to “convince them.”

“We have to have the land because it’s not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth — not just the U.S. — without it. So we have to have it, and I think we will have it,” he said.