President Trump on Monday said “we need Greenland” for national security. “We need Greenland for national security. Not for minerals, we have so many sites for minerals and oil,” Trump explained. “We have more oil than any other country in the world. We need Greenland for national security. And if you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump continued. “We need it for national security. We have to have it,” he added. Check it out: NOW – Trump: "We need Greenland for national security… We have to have it!" pic.twitter.com/obsImNZwfk — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 22, 2025 Trump’s comments follow his appointment of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland. “Thank you @realDonaldTrump! It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!” Landry said. Thank you @realDonaldTrump! It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana! — Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) December 22, 2025 ABC News shared further: Following Trump’s announcement, the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland reiterated that “national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law.” “You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security,” the leaders said in a joint statement. “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland.” Denmark’s foreign affairs minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, also reacted strongly to the appointment and Landry’s remarks, telling reporters on Monday, “I am very upset about this appointment of a special envoy. And I am particularly upset about the envoy’s statements, which we find completely unacceptable.” Rasmussen said he would summon the U.S. ambassador to Denmark — Ken Howery — over the appointment to “once again make it clear that there are some lines being crossed here, but of course also to get an explanation.” “We will determine our future ourselves. Greenland is our country,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, according to CBS News. “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity must be respected,” he added. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for US control over Greenland after announcing plans to appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the island https://t.co/qsZUsanVPv — Bloomberg (@business) December 22, 2025 More from CBS News: Greenland is strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising U.S., Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change. Greenland’s location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. During a visit by Vice President JD Vance to Greenland in March, Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House, “We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security.” “We have to have Greenland,” he said. “It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t.” In August, Denmark summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires after reports of attempted interference in Greenland. At least three U.S. officials close to Mr. Trump were observed in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk trying to identify people for and against a rapprochement with the United States. The U.S. opened a consulate in Greenland in June 2020.