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Lindsey Graham provided a blunt and dismissive message to Europeans frightened about Donald Trump’s vocal plans to take over Greenland
“Who offers a s— who owns Greenland? I don’t,” the South Carolina senator mentioned at POLITICO’s 2026 Munich Safety Convention
Graham’s message comes amid Trump’s quest for full “possession” of Greenland, which has strained U.S. relations with NATO allies
Sen. Lindsey Graham dismissed worries about President Donald Trump’s quest for full “possession” of Greenland, together with threats to amass it by drive.
Graham’s blunt message got here at POLITICO’s 2026 Munich Safety Convention on Friday, Feb. 13, after journalist Jonathan Martin requested the South Carolina Republican, 70, if he has a message for Europeans within the viewers “who’re clearly nervous” about Trump’s controversial plans for the NATO territory.
Graham, a Trump ally, first joked about Martin’s query. “Effectively, should you’re nervous, have a beer,” he mentioned. “Go see a health care provider. Cease being nervous.”
Graham then downplayed the president’s bid to take over the territory, which is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark — and which has harassed the US’ relations with Denmark and different NATO allies.
Lindsey Graham
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty
Sharing his precise message to “my European associates,” Graham mentioned, “Greenland is behind us, however the purpose is to get outcomes.”
“Who offers a s— who owns Greenland? I don’t,” the senator continued. “So the purpose is Greenland goes to be extra fortified as a result of Donald Trump, as soon as he feels prefer it’s his model or his buy-in, goes to go massive.”
When he was questioned about Denmark’s relationship with the U.S. amid Trump’s vocal plans to grab management of Greenland, Graham mentioned, “I believe we’re good.”
“I believe everyone is hugging it out and, you already know, we’ll stay to struggle one other day,” he added.
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Trump beforehand linked his lack of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to his need to grab management of Greenland in a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
In his January letter to Støre, Trump urged the politician to provide the U.S. “Full and Whole Management of Greenland,” even if Støre was not answerable for Trump’s Nobel loss, nor does he management the destiny of Greenland.
Donald Trump
SAUL LOEB / AFP by way of Getty
“I’ve finished extra for NATO than every other individual since its founding, and now, NATO ought to do one thing for the US,” Trump wrote within the letter.
He later doubled down on his Greenland plans in a Fact Social submit the identical day, writing, “NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘it’s important to get the Russian menace away from Greenland.’ Sadly, Denmark has been unable to do something about it. Now it’s time, and it will likely be finished!!! President Donald J. Trump.”
In a January interview with The New York Instances, Trump mentioned his need to have possession of Greenland is “psychologically necessary” to him.
Nonetheless, reporters questioned why he would not simply ship extra American troops to Greenland if his purpose was, as he beforehand acknowledged, to fend off international threats from China and Russia.
After Trump instructed the outlet that possession of the NATO territory is “what I really feel is psychologically wanted for fulfillment,” the Instances’ White Home correspondent Katie Rogers — whom Trump not too long ago known as “ugly, each in and out” for writing a narrative about his age — requested him to make clear, “Psychologically necessary to you or to the US?”
“Psychologically necessary for me,” Trump replied to Rogers. “Now, perhaps one other president would really feel otherwise, however up to now I’ve been proper about the whole lot.”
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