Trump Suggests Tariffs May Be Used to Pressure Support for Greenland Deal

President Donald Trump said Friday he may use tariffs to pressure other countries into supporting U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland.

“We need Greenland for national security,” Donald Trump said at the White House during a health care–related event. “So I may do that.”

Trump’s comments come as his push to bring Greenland under U.S. control has become more aggressive in recent months. While the U.S. already operates a military base on the island, Trump has argued that full ownership would better protect American interests in the Arctic, where China and Russia have been expanding their presence.

The administration has previously said it is weighing several options, including making a formal offer to buy Greenland. Both Greenland and Denmark, which oversees the territory’s foreign affairs, have repeatedly said the island is not for sale and does not want to become part of the United States.

Trump’s latest remarks suggest tariffs could be used as leverage in those discussions.

At the same event, Trump pointed to a similar strategy he has used when talking about lowering drug prices in the U.S. Under that approach, the administration has threatened tariffs on countries unless they agree to raise the prices they charge for pharmaceuticals to match U.S. levels.

“I may do that for Greenland too,” Trump said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland.”

The comments come at a time when Trump’s expanded use of tariffs is facing legal challenges. Since returning to office, the administration has raised the average U.S. tariff rate to an estimated 17%, according to trade analysts. Many of the tariffs were imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law that allows the president to act during national emergencies.

That authority has been challenged in multiple lawsuits, with several courts ruling against the administration. The issue is now before the Supreme Court, which could soon decide whether Trump’s tariff actions were lawful.

Trump has said a ruling against the administration would weaken his agenda.

“I hope we win the Supreme Court case,” he said. “Because if we don’t, it’d be a shame for our country.”

Diplomatic resistance is already evident. A delegation from Greenland and Denmark met this week in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, later saying they have a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump’s position.

For now, Greenland remains where it is. But Trump’s comments show how tariffs are being used as leverage in discussions that extend past trade policy.

At the time of publishing this article, Stocks.News doesn’t hold positions in companies mentioned in the article.