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Trump’s Greenland idea isn’t new. The US has pursued it at least 3 times before
From quiet discussions after the Civil War to a $100 million offer in the wake of World War II, American leaders have repeatedly seen Greenland as a strategic prize.
2 min readJan 9, 2026 12:35 AM IST
First published on: Jan 9, 2026 at 12:35 AM IST
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Children play on an icy surface in Nuuk, Greenland,. (AP Photo/ File) President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark fits into a long, little-known pattern in US history. From quiet discussions after the Civil War to a $100 million offer in the wake of World War II, American leaders have repeatedly seen Greenland as a strategic prize.
Here’s a look:
1867–1868: Early US interest after the Alaska purchase
After the US bought Alaska from Russia, officials under Secretary of State William Seward discussed acquiring Greenland as part of a broader push into the Arctic.
Seward noted the territory was rich in natural resources, including coal. But the idea never advanced to a formal offer, as Congress had little interest in pursuing another Arctic acquisition.
1910: Proposed land swap involving Greenland
Under President William Howard Taft, American diplomats floated a complex land-exchange plan that would have transferred Greenland to the United States in return for concessions elsewhere. Denmark rejected the proposal, and it quickly collapsed.
1946: Formal post–World War II purchase offer
At the outset of the Cold War, President Harry Truman’s administration formally offered Denmark $100 million in gold to buy Greenland, citing its strategic importance. During World War II, a US-built airfield on the island had served as a major refueling point for military planes en route to Europe.
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Denmark rejected Truman’s offer, though the U.S. retained military access. That presence continues today at the remote Pituffik Space Base, the US Department of Defense’s northernmost installation.
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