President-elect Donald Trump’s son, Donald Jr., arrived in Greenland on Tuesday aboard his father’s “Trump Force One” plane, weeks after his election. the father again expressed the desire for the United States to take control of the Danish autonomous territory. The visit comes just a day after Mr. Trump suggested that residents of the vast region were “MAGA” in a social media post.
“Just here as tourists,” Trump Jr. told reporters as he headed to the airport in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Tuesday. “We’ve been talking about going for a while. I was actually supposed to be here last spring for some of the things I do in my free time, but I’m really excited to be here. Awesome country.”
He was quickly asked about his father, who said he wanted to incorporate Greenland into the United States, but he responded simply by saying that the next president for a second term “says hello to him.”
“We talked to him yesterday, so he says hello to everyone in Greenland,” Trump Jr. said.
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“The visit of Donald Trump Jr. is a private visit and it is respected by Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland. Therefore, there will be no reactions to the visit either,” said Mininnguaq Kleist, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greenland. , told CBS News before arriving Tuesday. “Our country is open for tours and visitors are welcome to our beautiful country.”
Reuters, citing a source familiar with the trip, said Trump Jr. planned to film content for a podcast and would only come for one day.
On Monday, President-elect Trump said in a post on social media that he was, “hearing that the people of Greenland are “MAGA”. My son, Don Jr, and various representatives will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sites. Greenland is an incredible place, and people will benefit enormously if and when it becomes part of our nation. will protect and cherish him from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN! »
Greenland has a population of approximately 57,000 and is a fully autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. It has oil, gas and mineral resources, but its economy depends on subsidies from Denmark and fishing.
President-elect Trump had expressed interest in purchasing Greenland during his first term, although the idea was quickly rejected by the Danish authorities.
Two weeks ago, Trump said on social media that “for reasons of national security and freedom around the world, the United States of America believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” .
Greenland’s government has twice rejected Mr Trump’s assertions of interest in the territory, along with Prime Minister Mute Egede. saying just before Christmas that “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.”
Last week, Egede gave a New Year’s speech urging Greenland to remove “the chains of colonialism” and achieve full independence from Denmark.
“It is time that we ourselves take a step and shape our future, especially with regard to who we will cooperate closely with and who will be our business partners,” Egede said.
A Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, Aaja Chemnitz, said Trump’s interest should be set aside, Reuters reported.
“I don’t want to be a pawn in Trump’s ardent dreams of expanding his empire to include our country,” Chemnitz said.
