Key Points
- President Donald Trump said he could impose tariffs on countries “if they don’t go along with Greenland.”
- “We need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” Trump said at the White House.
- The remarks come as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariff powers.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he may slap tariffs on foreign countries if they refuse to support his push for the United States to take control of Greenland.
“We need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” Trump said during a health-care event at the White House.
The comments underscore how Trump, whose effort to acquire Greenland has grown more forceful in recent months, is again turning to tariffs as his go-to pressure tactic in foreign policy disputes.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request from CNBC for additional details on Trump’s remarks.
The Trump administration has previously said it is weighing multiple options to take over the Danish territory, including the possible use of the U.S. military.
Trump argues that U.S. ownership of Greenland is critical for national security, even though the United States already operates a military base on the island. He has cited growing threats from China and Russia as justification.
The White House has also said it is considering making a formal offer to purchase the Arctic island. But Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected the idea, insisting the territory is not for sale and does not want to become part of the United States.
Trump’s suggestion that tariffs could be used to force cooperation on Greenland followed comments about a similar strategy tied to drug pricing.
The president has pushed to lower prescription drug costs in the U.S. by requiring domestic prices to match the lower prices paid overseas.
At Friday’s White House event, Trump said he warned leaders of multiple countries that they must raise drug prices under a “most favored nations” arrangement — or face steep tariffs on all exports to the U.S.
“I may do that for Greenland too. I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said.
A delegation from Greenland and Denmark said Thursday that it has a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump after meetings in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Since returning to office, Trump has dramatically expanded the government’s use of tariffs, pushing the average U.S. tariff rate to an estimated 17%.
Many of the broadest levies were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a move that has drawn repeated legal challenges. Several courts have already ruled that the administration overstepped its authority.
Those cases are now before the Supreme Court, which could soon decide whether Trump’s tariff strategy is lawful.
Trump has warned that his broader economic agenda would fall apart if the high court rules against him.
“I hope we win the Supreme Court case, because if we don’t, [it’d] be a shame for our country,” he said Friday.
