President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he might implement tariffs on nations “if they do not comply with Greenland.”
“We require Greenland for national security. So I might proceed with that,” Trump remarked at the White House during a health-care focused gathering.
These remarks reveal Trump, whose initiative to obtain Greenland for the U.S. has become significantly more assertive lately, resorting to one of his preferred methods for exerting influence over foreign countries.
The White House did not swiftly reply to CNBC’s inquiry for further details on Trump’s comments.
The Trump administration has indicated that it is considering various options, including deploying the U.S. military, to seize the Danish territory.
Trump insists that it is crucial for the U.S. to possess Greenland — even though there is already a military base established there — due to the national security threats posed by China and Russia.
The White House has also mentioned that the U.S. is evaluating the possibility of purchasing the Arctic island. However, both Greenland and Denmark have consistently maintained that the territory is not for sale and do not wish to be incorporated into the U.S.
Trump’s indication that he might use tariffs to achieve his aims regarding Greenland followed his explanation of a comparable tactic to compel foreign nations to increase their drug prices.
Trump has advocated for reducing the cost of drugs in the U.S. by requiring domestic prices to align with lower prices from abroad.
During the White House gathering on Friday, Trump stated that he had warned the leaders of several nations to either increase drug prices under a “most favored nations” arrangement or face significant tariffs on all their imports into the U.S.
“I might pursue that for Greenland as well. I might impose a tariff on nations that do not agree with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump commented.
A delegation from Greenland and Denmark, following discussions with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Thursday, indicated they have a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump.
Trump has significantly increased the government’s deployment of tariffs since resuming office, elevating the overall average tariff rate to an estimated 17%.
Many of his broader tariffs were enacted using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The administration’s invocation of this law has faced repeated challenges, with numerous courts concluding that the actions were unlawful.
The matter has been escalated to the Supreme Court, which may soon issue its ruling on the validity of Trump’s IEEPA tariffs.
Trump has asserted that his agenda would come apart if the high court rules against him.
“I hope we prevail in the Supreme Court case, because if we do not, [it’d] be regrettable for our nation,” he remarked on Friday.
