How Much Are Republicans Willing to Spend for Greenland?
Trump’s framework of a Greenland deal leaves a lot of lingering questions.
Seeing Greenland
When President Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday afternoon that he had reached a tentative agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to satisfy Trump’s demand for Greenland to be annexed to the United States, he provided few details about the terms of the deal save that he was withdrawing his tariff threats against Europe.
“It’s a long-term deal,” Trump told reporters in Switzerland after announcing the agreement. “It’s the ultimate long-term deal, and I think it puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and minerals and everything else.”
Asked exactly how long the deal would be, Trump said, “Infinite.”
The New York Times has since reported that the deal could potentially include the United States gaining “some sovereignty over small pockets of Greenland” that would house military bases. If this land isn’t given away for free, the U.S. government could still be on the hook for a hefty bill. To get a sense of how Republican lawmakers are counting the cost of Greenland, I asked around to see if one of them might nail down a price.
Join Bulwark+ to unlock the rest
Become a paying member of The Bulwark to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
- Unlimited access to articles and newsletters including The Triad by JVL and Receipts by Catherine Rampell.
- Ad-free editions of our shows (with transcripts) and member-only shows like The Secret Podcast.
- Plus community chats and commenting features. Your support helps keep our work sustainable and available to those who cannot afford a membership. Cancel anytime.