Greenland is perhaps not the most obvious topic to be trending on Twitter, but this is what has been on everyone’s lips following reports about US President Trump’s interest in Denmark’s biggest asset.
Trump, a real estate tycoon, is sizing up Greenland due to its untapped natural resources and good strategic position, according to a Wall Street Journal Report.
The president did not comment on the rumours, but Greenland’s foreign affairs ministry said the island is not up for grabs, while Danish politicians widely ridiculed the idea.
#Greenland is rich in valuable resources such as minerals, the purest water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy and is a new frontier for adventure tourism. We're open for business, not for sale❄️🗻🐳🦐🇬🇱 learn more about Greenland on: https://t.co/WulOi3beIC
— Greenland MFA 🇬🇱 (@GreenlandMFA) August 16, 2019
The Greenland daze has taken over social media, with Trump coming in for a good share of mockery.
“We’re buying Greenland, folks, and Denmark’s going to pay for it,” US author Jonathan Chait joked in a play on Trump’s famous phrase that Mexico would pay for his border wall.
Trump wants to buy #Greenland? Let’s make him find it on a map first.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) August 16, 2019
The craziest thing about Trump wanting to buy Greenland is it’s only like the 4,876th most insane thing he’s said since saying he wanted to create a Space Force.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) August 16, 2019
Before we buy Greenland we should take care of Puerto Rico.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) August 16, 2019
Greenland right now. pic.twitter.com/x2HwHSgX0H
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) August 16, 2019
The news has spawned a humorous hashtag #AnnexGreenland…
WE WANT GREENLAND! 🇺🇸 #AnnexGreenland
— Perpetually Right (@PerpetualRight) August 15, 2019
GREENLAND 2020 #AnnexGreenland pic.twitter.com/mZYIcicL72
— Perpetually Right (@PerpetualRight) August 16, 2019
…but there are concerns that a prospective US territorial expansion would come at a heavy price for the pristine Greenlandic nature.
Makes sense. With his climate policy, Trump is probably thinking of turning it into a beach community!
— Todd Anderson (@todd4cal) August 15, 2019
Trump would destroy Greenland by building a Trump Tower, golf course & skyscrapers (using Russian money), while killing all wild life and destroying the ice sheets that holds fresh unpolluted water. No. Way. Ever!
— amber 🧜🏻♀️🤸♀️🧚🏻♀️🧘🏼♀️🐩 (@OkumAmber) August 15, 2019
There were plenty of alternative proposals, too.
How about a trade? Say San Francisco for Greenland? https://t.co/kgROIukndl
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) August 16, 2019
If we sell California to China to pay off debt and annex Greenland, we don’t even need a new flag. Everyone wins.
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) August 15, 2019
One Danish user quipped that while Denmark sold what now is the Virgin Islands to the United Sates in 1917 for $25 million, the Greenland deal would be “a bit more expensive”.
Why spend money on American’s healthcare when you can...buy Greenland!
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) August 16, 2019
Why improve our public schools when you can...buy Greenland!
Why rebuild our crumbling infrastructure when you can...buy Greenland!
This presidency has exploded into parody. It is beyond insane.
However bizarre the idea might sound today, this is not the first time a US president has thought up such a deal.
In 1946, according to unearthed documents from the National Archive, President Harry Truman considered buying Greenland for $100 million, but the proposal wasn't accepted by Copenhagen.
