Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that President Donald Trump desires to annex Greenland with a purpose to preserve the U.S. from getting “dragged” into an “assault” on the territory from Russia.
Throughout an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker questioned Bessent over why Trump remains to be searching for to grab Greenland even supposing the “leaders of Denmark and Greenland [have said] bluntly, ‘Greenland shouldn’t be on the market.’”
Welker requested the query after noting that the right-wing chief alluded on Friday that he could punish countries with tariffs in the event that they don’t again the U.S. controlling Greenland.
“Kristen, if we search for years, for over a century, American presidents have wished to accumulate Greenland,” he responded. “And what we will see is that Greenland is crucial to the U.S. nationwide safety. We’re constructing the golden dome, the missile system.”
Claiming that Trump is “being strategic” and is “trying past subsequent yr to what might occur for a battle within the Arctic,” he continued, “We’re not going to outsource our nationwide safety. We’re not going to outsource our hemispheric safety to different nations.”
Bessent added, “In Trump 1.0, President Trump informed the Europeans, ‘Don’t construct Nord Stream 2. Don’t depend on Russian oil.’ And guess what, Kristen? Guess what’s funding Russia’s efforts towards Ukraine? European purchases of Russian oil. So America needs to be in management there.”
Trump has repeatedly floated the thought of annexing Greenland, claiming the U.S. wants to accumulate the territory for nationwide safety causes. The president has not ruled out using military force to acquire it regardless of pushback from European leaders.
Welker went on to press Bessent over whether or not Trump is “critical” about annexing Greenland and whether or not his actions have been part of a “negotiating tactic.”
“President Trump strongly believes that we can’t outsource our safety,” he replied, earlier than including that “down the street, this battle for the Arctic is actual.”
“We’d preserve our NATO ensures. And if there have been an assault on Greenland from Russia, from another space, we’d get dragged in,” he continued. “So higher now, peace via power, make it a part of the US, and there won’t be a battle as a result of the US proper now, we’re the most well liked nation on this planet.”
Bessent added: “We’re the strongest nation on this planet. Europeans undertaking weak point. U.S. tasks power.”
Welker didn’t let up, urging Bessent to substantiate whether or not Trump has been utilizing a “negotiating tactic.”
“Is the purpose to get a deal to have enhanced safety in Greenland, for instance?,” she requested.
“The president believes that enhanced safety shouldn’t be doable with out Greenland being a part of the U.S,” he replied.
Elsewhere within the interview, Welker questioned the White Home official over why it’s “essential [for the U.S.] to take over and annex all of Greenland” even supposing “85% of individuals residing in Greenland oppose” the potential transfer.
“America has a base in Greenland. I’ve been speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Denmark has given the US a inexperienced mild to beef up its safety as a lot as is required in Greenland. Why not take that route?,” she requested the treasury secretary.
“Effectively, once more let’s look again. Denmark has a horrible historical past with Greenlanders,” he responded. “There have been compelled sterilizations up till the ’80s or the ’90s. So rapidly, now that the U.S. has expressed an curiosity, there’s, you recognize, this new curiosity.”
Claiming that the “United States must be in management to forestall a battle,” he added, “And we don’t wish to get dragged into another person’s battle.”
Welker later introduced up that “Senior Democrats say there are not any urgent threats on Greenland’s safety from Russia or China,” earlier than asking, Bessent what “proof” the Trump administration has that there’s a “urgent menace.”
She additionally famous “the Danish international minister says there hasn’t been a Chinese language warship in Greenland for a decade.”
“Effectively, to begin with, Kristen, now we have uneven data. And once more, President Trump is being strategic right here. What proof was there that the Russians have been going into Crimea? Effectively, really there was a number of proof that the Russians have been going to enter Ukraine,” he responded.
Bessent then pivoted to putting the blame on the Biden administration, including, “And Joe Biden stated, ‘Effectively, simply take a little bit little bit of it.’ However what we all know is that Greenland can solely be defended whether it is a part of the U.S.”
“And it’ll not have to be defended whether it is a part of the U.S. The president is attempting to keep away from a battle,” he added.
Wrapping up their dialogue on Greenland, Welker requested “if the US have been to take Greenland by pressure, how would that be completely different than Russia’s annexation of Crimea?”
“Look, I imagine that Europeans will perceive that that is greatest for Greenland, greatest for Europe, and greatest for the US,” he responded.
Watch Bessent’s “Meet the Press” interview under.
