Spin Cycle: As Trump Escalates On Greenland, Media Speculates

President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to acquire Greenland for the United States, and while his administration has insisted the goal is a negotiated purchase of the strategically-located island from Denmark, critics in the media and the Democratic Party have nonetheless suggested he will use the military to take the island by force.

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

The renewed furor over Greenland began with a Saturday Truth Social post from the president leveraging tariffs against a number of European nations until an agreement is reached for the United States to purchase it.

“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades,” Trump said.

Following a week of military buildup in Greenland — as European nations attempt to help Denmark shore up defenses against a U.S. invasion that the Trump administration has repeatedly stated is not coming — anchors and guests across the legacy networks discussed the fate of the island nation as if an invasion was imminent.

Anchor Jonathan Karl raised the question with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on ABC’s “This Week,” asking what he made of the president’s rhetoric regarding gaining control of Greenland.

“I want to put your foreign affairs hat on — what do you make of what’s going on with the president and Greenland? And how he’s slapped tariffs on eight of our allies in Europe? He’s not rolling out military force to get Greenland?” he asked, his tone almost one of disbelief.

McCaul quickly pointed out the fact that American presidents had considered Greenland to be a strategic purchase since the United States acquired Alaska, adding, “It is very strategic right now from a national security standpoint against China and Russia. But in 1951 we signed a treaty with Denmark that allows us full access to Greenland — to protect Greenland, and this was after World War II — President Truman initially was involved and then President Eisenhower.”

“The fact is, the president has full military access to Greenland to protect us from any threats,” McCaul added, noting that Trump could increase the American military presence in Greenland without the United States officially taking ownership of the territory. “If he wants to purchase Greenland, that’s one thing. But for him to militarily invade would turn Article 5 of NATO on its very head, in essence, put us at war with NATO itself.”

GOP Rep. Michael McCaul on President Trump’s proposed action in Greenland: “If we want to put more military in there, we can, we don’t have to invade it. If you want to buy it, that’s fine. But I don’t see a willing seller right now.” https://t.co/XjdJpMxs7P pic.twitter.com/VuenM5BGQA

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 18, 2026

Karl also brought in Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to discuss the situation, and he immediately accused the president of an attempted land grab with regard to Greenland.

“Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland, just like the real reason he went into Venezuela had nothing to do with stopping drugs from coming,” he claimed.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen calls President Trump’s pursuit of Greenland a “land grab.”

“Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland, just like the real reason he went into Venezuela had nothing to do with stopping drugs from coming.” pic.twitter.com/c1JOw3UudA

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 18, 2026

Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) also joined Karl on Sunday morning, and she argued that it would be unfair to the people of New Jersey for Trump to spend federal funds — some of which come out of her state — on a strategic purchase like Greenland.

“There is not one person in New Jersey that wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Gee, I hope today’s the day that the president dumps billions of dollars into buying Greenland,” she added.

“There is not one person in New Jersey that wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Gee, I hope today’s the day that the president dumps billions of dollars into buying Greenland.”

NJ Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill criticizes President Trump’s use of federal funds. pic.twitter.com/jWAURz3lDw

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 18, 2026

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) threatened a vote on a bill that would prevent Trump from using federal funds to exert control over Greenland — and claimed that there was no threat to Greenland from Russia or China. Ignoring the fact that the Trump administration’s assertion is that the three is not to Greenland but to the United States – and that Greenland, protected solely by Denmark, is the weak link in the security chain — Warner claimed that the only actual threat to Greenland was coming from Donald Trump.

“There is no current security threat from Russia or China to Greenland. The only security threat to Greenland right now is the United States,” he told “Face the Nation” anchor Margaret Brennan on CBS News.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says he would “of course” vote in support of a bill proposed by Sens. Shaheen and Murkowski that would prohibit the use of federal funds to assert control over the territory of a NATO state. But Warner tells… pic.twitter.com/bzXWVgwf23

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 18, 2026

Brennan also ran with a new CBS News poll that showed Americans were largely opposed to possible U.S. military action in Greenland, and worried that such action would likely “create more instability in the world.”

There’s widespread bipartisan opposition to the prospect of U.S. military action in Greenland, with many Americans saying the implications would create more instability in the world, a new CBS News poll finds. https://t.co/a6pikO0swy pic.twitter.com/EnQZgoFnpP

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 18, 2026

On CNN, anchor Jake Tapper brought in former Vice President Mike Pence to push back on Trump’s apparent plan. Pence argued that while it was perfectly reasonable to look at Greenland as a strategic objective, the issue was how President Trump might go about bringing Denmark to heel.

“Well, look, I think it’s a question right now, Jake, not of what the president’s trying to accomplish, but how? And I have concerns about using what I think is a questionable constitutional authority, imposing unilateral tariffs on NATO allies to achieve this objective,” he explained.

Former Vice President Mike Pence questions President Trump threatening new tariffs on allies over Greenland:

“Well, look, I think it’s a question right now, Jake, not of what the president’s trying to accomplish, but how? And I have concerns about using what I think is a… pic.twitter.com/2MYQrcpZTb

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 18, 2026

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) rounded out the conversation with Tapper by complaining about the use of federal funds to gain a strategic foothold in the Arctic.

“The idea that we’re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we can make. The only person who can make a decision this dumb is someone who could let a casino go under, and guess who is President right now?” he said.

Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego on Trump’s push to acquire Greenland:

“The idea that we’re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we can make. The only person who can make a decision this dumb is someone who could let a casino go under, and guess… pic.twitter.com/uubEY1KMMC

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 18, 2026