Trump says US will take ‘easy way’ or ‘hard way’ to control Greenland

WASHINGTON – 10 January 2026: US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his interest in bringing Greenland under American control, saying Washington would pursue the matter “the easy way” or “the hard way,” the AFP reported.

Speaking during a White House meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said “I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.”

Trump argued that gaining control of Greenland, a mineral-rich island that is self-governing but officially part of Denmark, is vital to US national security amid increasing military activity by Russia and China in the Arctic region.

His remarks follow comments this week by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, who said the US is exploring the possibility of buying Greenland—an idea previously rejected by both the island’s authorities and Denmark.

Leavitt also said earlier this week that Trump is considering multiple avenues to gain control of Greenland, adding that the use of military force is “always an option.”