Greenland is for small-timers. Trump should make an offer for an even bigger, richer, more strategic and more passive-aggressive Arctic ally
In recent days, the mainstream media reported on President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, which is a “constituent country” within the kingdom of Denmark.
The Wall Street Journal broke this story Thursday, with follow-up reporting from The Washington Post and the New York Times. Greenland has responded with an emphatic, public and polite refusal. This has been manna from heaven for political scientists, who have proffered many useful takes.
If there has been a dominant theme in the mainstream media coverage, it has been that not even Trump’s staff can take him seriously on this point. The Journal’s story noted that “the few current and former White House officials who had heard of the notion described it with a mix of anticipation and apprehension,” and that was one of the more positive responses.
Reuters reported, “The notion had been laughed off by some advisers as a joke but was taken more seriously by others in the White House.” The Washington Post’s Damian Paletta and Colby Itkowitz reported, “The presidential request has bewildered aides, some of whom continue to believe it isn’t serious, but Trump has mentioned it for weeks.”
The Times’s Maggie Haberman and Michael Shear reported, “Privately, Mr. Trump’s advisers are highly skeptical that such a move could ever happen. But instead of telling him they do not think it is possible, the advisers have agreed to investigate the matter.” All I can say is, thank God Trump’s more stalwart defenders have taken pains to point out the president’s keen insight in wanting to buy the island.
For the rest of this column: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/a-modest-proposal-for-the-trump-administration-to-buy-canada