Trump, Greenland bicker over whether the US can purchase territory from Denmark

President-elect Donald Trump and Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede are at odds over whether the United States can purchase the Danish territory, after Trump proposed the idea on Sunday night.

Trump, who during his first term proposed expanding the U.S by purchasing Greenland, expressed renewed interest in the potential sale when announcing Ken Howery as U.S. ambassador to Denmark, which owns the northern territory.

"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States."

Howery served as U.S. ambassador to Sweden during the former president's first term, and is a co-founder of PayPal.

Egede responded to the comment in a post on Facebook on Monday, informing Trump that Greenland is not "and will never be for sale."

"Greenland is ours," Egede insisted. "We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our year-long struggle for freedom. However, we must continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbours."

The United States Space Force has a post on the northwest coast of Greenland, the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base. It is the U.S. Armed Forces' northernmost installation.

Trump also made waves with Panama this weekend, after he demanded that the country lower its fees for U.S. ships traveling through the Panama Canal or else return the canal to U.S. control. Panama took over the canal in 1999.

"The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S.," Trump posted in a rant to Truth Social on Saturday. 

"The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands," he continued in a separate post. "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in full."

Panama's President Jose Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's demands, asserting that the ownership of the canal was not for debate. 

"The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable," Mulino said. "Our canal has the mission to serve humanity and its commerce. That is one of the greatest values that the Panamanians offer to the world."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.