Trump Gets New Red Flag From Greenland
A newly released poll indicates that most residents of Greenland do not believe becoming part of the United States would be beneficial, even as President Donald Trump has warned that the Arctic region is increasingly vulnerable to foreign threats.
The survey, published by Denmark’s Copenhagen Post, found that 76 percent of Greenlanders say joining the U.S. would not benefit them. Only 8 percent supported the idea, while 16 percent said they were unsure, reflecting widespread hesitation across the territory.
Pollster Sune Steffen Hansen said the results suggest that many Greenland residents are generally satisfied with their current political and economic arrangement.
Greenlanders Skeptical of U.S. Social Systems
The poll also revealed negative views of American social programs among Greenlanders, particularly in areas such as health care, elder care, and education.
According to reporting cited by The Wall Street Journal, only 10 percent of adults surveyed said they had a mainly or very positive view of the U.S. welfare system.
Greenland currently operates under a Nordic-style welfare model, similar to Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. The system provides universal health care, social security, and public services, and is largely funded by annual block grants from the Danish government.
Denmark has reportedly pledged an additional 1.6 billion Danish crowns—approximately $253 million—for Greenland’s health care and infrastructure projects through 2029.
Danish Officials Question U.S. Commitment
Several Danish leaders have expressed doubts that the United States would maintain such an expansive welfare system if Greenland were to fall under American control.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a January interview that he does not believe the U.S. would finance a Scandinavian-style welfare system abroad when it does not operate one domestically.
His remarks followed reports that the Trump administration had considered direct financial incentives to encourage Greenlanders to consider separating from Denmark.
Trump Administration Focuses on Arctic Security
The survey was conducted during a period of heightened rhetoric from President Trump and senior U.S. officials, who have argued that Greenland is strategically critical to American national security.
Administration officials have repeatedly pointed to Russian and Chinese military activity, as well as the region’s vast mineral and shipping potential, as reasons the U.S. must play a larger role in the Arctic.
For several weeks, President Trump declined to rule out the use of military force to secure American interests in Greenland. He later moderated that stance during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, emphasizing diplomacy and cooperation.
Trump also announced progress toward a broader framework with NATO covering Arctic security and mineral access, while easing proposed tariffs on Denmark and other European allies.
Greenland Residents Express Military Concerns
Despite the shift in tone, the poll found that 54 percent of Greenlanders said they were worried or very worried that the United States could deploy military forces on the island.
Officials from the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland struck a more positive tone after the first meeting of a new high-level working group last week. Still, Greenlandic leaders made clear that sovereignty remains a firm boundary.
Greenland’s prime minister told an audience in Paris that local leaders are facing fear and uncertainty among residents as international pressure increases, but stressed that there are clear limits Greenland will not cross.
Poll Methodology
The Copenhagen Post survey was conducted between January 16 and January 28 and included 610 adults across Greenland. Responses were collected by phone and online, with a margin of error of approximately 4 percentage points.
