Trump Reshares Controversial Map of U.S. Territories
President Trump stirred up some chatter among world leaders by reposting a map that absurdly included Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela as part of the United States.
On Monday, during a meeting with European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump showcased the map, drawing looks of surprise or perhaps disbelief. He made the post on Truth Social but opted not to add any commentary.
Interestingly, Trump has consistently argued that Greenland is vital for U.S. security in the Arctic, especially with looming concerns about Russia and China. There have been discussions regarding Greenland’s future, but its Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt expressed that the island didn’t really want to find itself in such negotiations.
“It’s going to take some time; it’s a bit premature to predict the outcome,” Motzfeldt noted recently.
Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the talks as constructive, hinting that further meetings are on the horizon.
Trump, who labels himself the “tariff king,” previously hinted at using tariffs against European nations as part of the U.S. strategy to acquire Greenland, although he later moderated his stance. While he had suggested that all possibilities, including diplomatic and military options, were being considered, he later clarified that force would not be on the table.
Interestingly, Trump has poked fun at Greenland’s officials by sharing AI-generated images depicting them planting American flags on the island. At a recent black-tie event, he humorously mentioned that the U.S. would opt to purchase Greenland rather than invade it, stating, “We’re not going to invade Greenland. We’re going to buy Greenland.”
During the event, he went further, saying, “It was never my intention to make Greenland the 51st state. I want Canada to be the 51st state. Greenland would be the 52nd state. Venezuela could be the 53rd state.” It clearly reflects his somewhat whimsical, or maybe serious, approach to discussions about territory.
In a related note, Trump has criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for suggesting Canada could become the 51st state. Carney, sitting across from Trump in the Oval Office, firmly stated that Canada is not for sale, insisting, “As you know in the real estate industry, some places will never sell.”
