White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that President Donald Trump and his advisers are exploring a range of options to acquire Greenland, adding that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option.”
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said. “The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal.”
Her comments came amid heightened rhetoric from the Trump administration about Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller had earlier suggested the U.S. has a right to Greenland and did not rule out military action.
Leavitt’s statement sparked pushback from European allies, with Denmark and other NATO members reaffirming Greenland’s sovereignty and warning that military action would have serious consequences. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties criticized the discussion of potential U.S. military intervention as inappropriate and dangerous.
The remarks highlight the Trump administration’s view of Greenland as a strategic priority, with Leavitt’s statement making clear that military options remain on the table.
