Since being elected, Trump has said at various points that he wants to annex Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. He has also suggested annexing Mexico and taking over the Gaza Strip.
Trump has stated intentions to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada in an effort for the Canadian government to stop what in his view is an illegal migration crisis and drug crisis on the Canada-United States border.[3] Canadian officials have responded by threatening the United States with retaliatory tariffs and a shut down of the flow of Canadian energy into the Northern United States.[4] This has led to Trump taunting Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau with joke offers for Canada to join the Union, referring to him as the 'Governor of the Great State of Canada'.[5] During the Super Bowl LIX pre-game show, Trump reaffirmed his intention of annexing Canada and turning it into the 51st state.[6][7][8]
In December 2024, Trump stated a further proposal for the United States to purchase Greenland from Denmark, describing ownership and control of the island as "an absolute necessity" for national security purposes. This builds upon a prior offer from Trump to buy Greenland during his first term, which the Danish Realm refused, causing him to cancel his August 2019 visit to Denmark.[9] On January 7, 2025, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland's capital city Nuuk alongside Charlie Kirk to hand out MAGA hats.[10] At a press conference the following day, Trump refused to rule out military or economic force order to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal.[11] However, he did rule out military force in taking over Canada.[11] On January 12, then-Vice President-electJD Vance repeatedly stated that controlling Greenland is critical for U.S. national security and said there's "a deal to be made in Greenland".[12] Asked on 14 January by Senator Mazie Hirono about the potential use of military force to integrate Greenland into the United States, Pete Hegseth stated he would not provide details in a public forum.[13] On January 14, the Trump-affiliated Nelk Boys also visited Nuuk, handing out dollar bills to locals.[14] On January 16, the CEOs of major Danish companies Novo Nordisk, Vestas and Carlsberg among others were assembled for a crisis meeting in the Ministry of State to discuss the situation.[15][16] On the subsequent day, former chief executive Friis Arne Petersen in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as "historically unheard of", while Noa Redington, special adviser to former prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, compared the international pressure on Denmark that during the 2005 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[17] Political commentator Henrik Qvortrup stated on the 17th that a mention of Greenland during Trump's inaugural address on January 20 would confirm Trump's seriousness, making the situation one of Denmark’s largest international crises since World War II.[18]
On 6 February 2025, a poll conducted by USA Today between 7 January 2025 and 10 January 2025 was released which showed that only 11% of Americans said that Trump should purchase or annex Greenland. 29% of Americans said that they thought that acquiring Greenland was a good but unrealistic idea and 53% of American said that they don't support idea of annexing Greenland.[19][20]
On 13 January 2025, legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Andy Ogles to authorize the United States Government to acquire Greenland on behalf of the U.S., granting to Congress a 60-day review period prior to integration of Greenlandic territory into the United States.[21] As of the date of introduction, the bill had 12 co-sponsors and had been referred to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for review.[21]
On 10 February 2025, Republican senator Buddy Carter introduced a legislation which would rename Greenland to "Red, White, and Blueland" and allow US President Donald Trump to "purchase or otherwise acquire" Greenland.[22] Carter further stated, "When our Negotiator-in-Chief signs this historic agreement, we will proudly welcome the people of what is now Greenland to join the freest nation in history. President Trump has rightly identified this purchase as a national security priority."[23] The legislation gives the office of the Secretary of the Interior six months after its passage to ensure that federal documents are updated to reflect the name change.[24]
Mexico
Trump has suggested, along with Canada, that America's subsidizing of Mexico means it should become a state. In an interview with NBC, Trump said, "We're subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion. We shouldn't be — why are we subsidizing these countries? If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state."[25]
Trump has proposed resettling Palestinians in the Gaza Strip elsewhere, with the United States taking it over and rebuilding it, following the Gaza war. Trump described ambitions to make Gaza "the Riviera of the Middle East," in which "the world's people" would live.[29][30]
In 2024, Trump demanded that Panama return control of the Panama Canal to the United States due to 'excessive rates' being charged for American passage.[31] If the United States were to take control of the Panama Canal, it would mark the first time the United States controlled Panamanian territory since the United States invasion of Panama.[32]
On 7 January 2025, Trump stated that he had not ruled out the use of military to take control of the Panama Canal.[33] The next day on 8 January 2025, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh declined answer a reporter's question regarding the potential use of military force to annex the Panama Canal.[34] On 14 January 2025, presumptive nominee for the United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declined to answer a question by Senator Mazie Hirono about the potential use of military force take the Panama Canal and Greenland and if he would comply with an order to do so.[35]
In his first official trip abroad, Secretary of StateMarco Rubio will travel to Panama to push to reclaim the Panama Canal for the United States.[36][37]
On 28 January 2025, the United States Senate held a hearing on the Panama Canal.[38][39] During the hearing, a bipartisan group of senators claimed China maintains influence over the Panama Canal, with Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell saying: "I am concerned about the Chinese-owned ports in Panama and their proximity to the Canal."[40]
On 2 February 2025, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he "vowed" to "take back" the Panama Canal and warned of a "powerful US action" saying, "China is running the Panama Canal that was not given to China, that was given to Panama foolishly, but they violated the agreement, and we’re going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen".[41][42]
Numerous politicians outside of the United States have criticised Donald Trump's annexation comments. Many have also compared Trump's comments about Canada, Greenland and Panama to Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments about Ukraine and Chinese President Xi Jinping's comments about Taiwan.[44][45][46][47]
Canadian reaction
Donald Trump's proposals have been received negatively in Canada, with it being condemned by all major political parties and leaders as well as causing an increasing strain on Canada–United States relations. Polling conducted on Trump's proposals have received extremely little support among Canadians to the proposal of Canada becoming the 51st State with an Angus Reid poll showing that 90% of Canadians are against being annexed by the United States.[48] Polls also showed a sharp rise in Canadian nationalism among Quebecers.[49][50][51][52]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to Trump saying that there's "not a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would be annexed by the United States.[53][54] Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stated that Canada would never become the 51st state of America.[55] On 7 February 2025, Poilievre further stated that Trump's 51st state comments aren't a joke saying: "I’ve always taken it seriously, and I’ve always clearly and consistently condemned it. Canada will never be the 51st state. We will be a strong, independent, sovereign country when I’m prime minister."[56]
Danish and Greenlandic reaction
The Danish government has repeatedly stated that "Greenland is not for sale".[57][58][59] In a poll published by Berlingske and Sermitsiaq, 85% of Greenlanders have stated that they are against being annexed by the United States.[60][61] The poll also showed that 45% of Greenlanders view Trump as a threat while 43% view Trump as an "opportunity" and 13% are undecided.[62]
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that "Europe must stand together" against Trump.[45] During a press conference on 21 January 2025, Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede stated, "We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be Danish either. Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenland".[63] Kristian Søby Kristensen, a defense researcher from the University of Copenhagen said that Denmark could not defend Greenland from America on its own and that the Danish Armed Forces are neither equipped nor trained to stop an American invasion from happening.[64] Furthermore, Kristensen stated that Denmark's military stocks have been significantly depleted by arms transfers to Ukraine.[64] On 2 February 2025, during an EU meeting in Brussels, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters "I will never support the idea of fighting allies. But of course, if the U.S. puts tough terms on Europe, we need a collective and robust response."[65] On 4 February 2025, Greenland introduced a bill which would ban "foreign political donations".[66][67] The bill, which is planned to be passed in a week, is viewed as a way to safeguard the 2025 Greenlandic general election which will be held on 6 April 2025.[68]
Most European politicians have voiced their support for Denmark.[69] French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that if Denmark were to request "solidarity" from EU countries, "France will be there."[70] He also stated that France would not tolerate American military intervention.[71] France also debated with Denmark about the possibility of the deployment of French troops to Greenland.[72][73][74][75] On 4 February 2025, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte sat down with EU leaders for lunch and suggested the deployment of NATO soldiers to Greenland in order to "defang the threat from the U.S. president".[76]
During a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that, "Borders must not be moved by force. To whom it may concern."[77]
Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, "We are watching very closely this rather dramatic development of the situation, so far, thank God, at the level of statements."[78]
Mexican reaction
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's annexation suggestion by saying, "Mexico is a free, sovereign, and independent country, and we will always defend that."[79]
Sheinbaum responded to Trump renaming the gulf by saying that Google Maps should present the map of América Mexicana over the United States. She also explained that territorial waters only extend up to 12 nautical miles, and that the renaming couldn't apply to the entire gulf.[80]
Panamanian reaction
Panamanians say the Panama Canal is part of their national identity.[81] Paula Rodriguez, a cafe owner told the Guardian, "Panamanian people – we rise, you know, we defend and we unite, after all, to defend our country and our people. Because it’s not about the canal, it’s about our integrity. If you can see in the social media, people are angry, angry, and writing: ‘No way – this is not gonna happen again."[82] Numerous anti-American protests have taken place across Panama since 24 December 2024.[83][84][85][86] On 28 January 2025, a coalition of civil society groups released a joint statement which condemned "any foreign political intervention".[87][88]
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected Trump's claims about "retaking" the Panama Canal.[89] He further stated, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama and will continue to be. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable."[90] Saúl Méndez of SUNTRACS said in an interview, "Trump tries to erase with a single whim, what was conquered here with the life of patriots, but today more than ever the defense of sovereignty is intact in the Panamanian people."[91] Panama's UN Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba stated that the United States should refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.[92] Panama City mayor Mayer Mizrachi posted on his X account that Panama would never become the 51st state.[82] Former Panamanian President Ernesto Pérez Balladares said that if the US were to invade there would be "many, many casualties on our side, and international condemnation of the U.S."[93]
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian condemned the United States' "irresponsible remarks on the Panama canal issue, and intentionally distorted, attacked and mischaracterized relevant cooperation".[94]
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