Trump floats new tariffs in push to acquire Greenland
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while speaking during the “Major, Historic Investment in Rural Health Roundtable” in the East Room of the White House on January 16, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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President Donald Trump said Friday that he could impose tariffs on countries “if they do not comply with Greenland.”
“We need Greenland for national security. So I can do this,” Trump said at the White House.
The comments show that Trump, whose efforts to buy Greenland on behalf of the United States have become increasingly aggressive in recent months, is turning to one of his favorite tools to increase his power over foreign countries.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for additional information about Trump’s remarks.
The Trump administration has previously said it is considering several options, including using the US military, to seize Danish territory.
Trump argues that it is essential for America to own Greenland, even though the United States already has a military base in Greenland due to national security concerns created by China and Russia.
The White House also said the United States is considering making an offer to buy the Arctic island. But Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly insisted that the territory is not for sale and has no intention of being incorporated into the Americas.
Trump’s suggestion that he could use tariffs to get his way in Greenland comes after he announced a similar strategy to force foreign countries to raise drug prices.
Trump has sought to lower the cost of U.S. drugs by requiring domestic prices to match lower prices paid abroad.
At an event at the White House on Friday, Trump said he had threatened the leaders of several countries to either raise drug prices under the “most favored nations” agreement or face heavy tariffs on all imports to the United States.
“I can also do this for Greenland. I can impose tariffs on countries that do not comply with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said.
A delegation from Greenland and Denmark said they had a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump after meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Thursday.
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