POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Trump Claims U.S., Denmark, and Greenland Entered Into Security Agreement
The Claim A viral claim circulating on social media and news platforms suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States, Denmark, and Greenland had entered into an...
The Claim
A viral claim circulating on social media and news platforms suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States, Denmark, and Greenland had entered into an agreement granting the U.S. control over security in Greenland. The claim gained traction after being shared widely on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with users citing a specific video or statement attributed to Trump.
The original source of the claim appears to be a post by Reuters Fact Check, which referenced a clip of Trump making the statement during a campaign event. The quote, which was taken out of context, led to widespread confusion about the nature of any existing or proposed agreement between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland regarding security matters. The claim specifically suggested that the U.S. had secured a formal arrangement allowing it to take control of Greenland’s security infrastructure, raising concerns about sovereignty and international relations.
The Details & Investigation
Upon reviewing the original source material, including the video clip cited by Reuters, it becomes clear that Trump’s statement was made during a campaign rally in 2019. In the clip, he is seen saying, We have a deal with Denmark, we have a deal with Greenland, and we are going to take control of the security. However, this statement was taken out of context and misrepresented by various outlets and social media users.
According to official records and diplomatic correspondence, there has never been a formal agreement between the U.S. and Denmark or Greenland granting the U.S. control over Greenland’s security. Instead, the U.S. maintains a military presence in Greenland under the terms of the 1951 Treaty of Defense, which allows for the stationing of U.S. forces at Thule Air Base. This treaty is part of the broader North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and does not involve any unilateral transfer of security control to the U.S.
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Furthermore, Danish officials have consistently denied any such agreement exists. In a 2021 interview, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen clarified that while the U.S. has a military presence in Greenland, there is no formal agreement that grants the U.S. control over security. He emphasized that Greenland remains a territory of Denmark, and any decisions regarding its security would require Danish consent. Additionally, a review of U.S. State Department documents and historical records confirms that no such agreement has ever been signed or proposed.
The claim also appears to be part of a broader pattern of misinformation surrounding U.S.-Denmark-Greenland relations. Social media algorithms amplified the false narrative, leading to increased public concern and speculation about potential geopolitical shifts. This suggests a deliberate effort to mislead the public, rather than an accidental error. Therefore, the claim likely falls under the category of disinformation, as it involves the intentional distortion of a political statement to create a misleading impression.
The Verdict
The viral claim that former President Donald Trump stated the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland had entered into an agreement granting the U.S. control over Greenland’s security is FALSE. There is no evidence of such an agreement, and Danish and U.S. officials have explicitly denied its existence. The statement attributed to Trump was taken out of context and misrepresented, leading to widespread confusion.
This claim constitutes DISINFORMATION due to the deliberate manipulation of a political statement to create a misleading narrative. While the original statement may have been ambiguous, the subsequent spread of the claim through social media and news platforms indicates a coordinated effort to distort the facts. As such, the claim should be rated as FALSE, with a strong emphasis on the disinformation aspect.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
