Trump Repeats Calls for US Control of Canada and Greenland Following Trudeau’s Resignation
President-elect Donald Trump has once again floated the controversial notion of the United States annexing both Canada and Greenland. His remarks about Canada came just hours after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, ending a nearly decade-long tenure.
Trudeau stepped down on Monday, citing internal political struggles and government stagnation. “This country deserves a real choice,” the outgoing leader said, as his Liberal Party prepared for a leadership contest to choose his successor.
Reacting to the news, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to propose a US-Canada merger. “No tariffs, lower taxes, and total security from the Russian and Chinese threats constantly surrounding them,” Trump wrote. He also criticized Canada’s reliance on US trade, adding, “The United States cannot continue to bear the burden of Canada’s subsidies and trade deficits. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned.”
The timing of Trudeau’s resignation raised eyebrows, as Trump has vowed to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods on his first day in office. Former Canadian ambassador to the US, David MacNaughton, called Trudeau’s move poorly timed. “His resignation leaves little room for Canada to counter Trump’s tariff threats,” MacNaughton told CBC News. Economists warn that such tariffs could severely harm Canada’s economy.
Trump Revives Greenland Ambitions
Later that evening, Trump renewed his push for US control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. In another Truth Social post, he claimed Greenlanders were supportive of his “Make America Great Again” agenda.
“I’m hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA,’” Trump wrote. He announced that his son, Donald Trump Jr., would be visiting Greenland to explore its “magnificent areas and sights,” though Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Department clarified the trip was personal, with no official meetings planned.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, who has called for an independence referendum, has yet to respond to Trump’s remarks. However, in December, Egede reaffirmed that “Greenland is not for sale and will never be for sale.”
This is not Trump’s first attempt to acquire Greenland. During his first term, he canceled a 2019 trip to Denmark after its prime minister dismissed the idea as absurd. Trump has since argued that owning Greenland is essential for US national security, citing its strategic location and the presence of a large US military base.
Greenland’s parliament member, Aaja Chemnitz, responded to Trump’s recent claims, urging citizens to reject any notion of annexation. “Don’t let Trump control Greenland’s political narrative or treat us as pawns,” she wrote on Facebook. “It’s naive to think becoming American citizens would bring happiness.”
Trump’s proposals have drawn sharp criticism from Canadian and Greenlandic leaders, underscoring the diplomatic challenges he is likely to face as his inauguration approaches.
