Trump Raises Eyebrows with Military Expansion Talk
President-elect Donald Trump stirred controversy on Tuesday by not ruling out the potential use of military force to secure territories such as Greenland and the Panama Canal—ideas he has previously suggested since his election win.
During a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago, Trump remarked, “It might be that you’ll have to do something,” when asked about his stance on military intervention. He added, “I can’t assure you—you’re talking about Panama and Greenland—no, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security.”
He further threatened Denmark with significant tariffs if they refuse to cede control of Greenland to the United States, raising eyebrows about Denmark’s legal claim over the territory. “People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” Trump declared. Officials from both Denmark and Greenland have firmly stated that the island is not for sale, while Panama’s leadership has also asserted that the Panama Canal is not subject to negotiation. Trump has voiced a desire to regain U.S. control over the canal, which was handed back to Panama in 1999 through a treaty negotiated by former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29. Trump has criticized this agreement, claiming that Panama has been “overcharging” the U.S. for access to the canal and that Panama’s control of this strategic waterway is harmful to American interests.
While Trump’s ambitions for territorial expansion remain somewhat vague, his comments on Tuesday provided a clearer insight into his vision for reshaping the U.S. geopolitical environment. He even humorously suggested that Canada consider becoming the 51st state of the U.S., but insisted that any pressure on Canada would be applied through economic channels rather than military means. “That would really be something,” Trump quipped. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security.”
Additionally, Trump expressed his ambition to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America—“a beautiful name,” in his view—and announced plans to impose hefty tariffs on both Mexico and Canada.
This press conference, which followed Congress’s formal certification of his election victory, was Trump’s second since winning on November 5. He kicked things off with a multibillion-dollar initiative to establish data centers across the U.S., backed by investors from Dubai, calling it a “great thing” for American technological and AI advancements. With his second inauguration just under two weeks away, Trump made an urgent appeal for Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, warning that “all hell will break out” if the approximately 100 hostages are not freed by January 20. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, indicated they believe a resolution regarding the hostages’ release is forthcoming.
However, the atmosphere shifted as Trump began to address his political opponents, particularly focusing on President Joe Biden and the legal hurdles he faces from various ongoing investigations.
Trump’s remarks portrayed a President-elect determined to navigate what he sees as obstacles to his agenda as he prepares to step into the Oval Office. “We are inheriting a difficult situation from the outgoing administration, and they’re trying everything they can to make it more difficult,” he said, criticizing Biden’s final actions in office, including an executive order that halted oil and gas drilling on 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. “I’m going to put it back on day one,” he pledged.
These comments were made just ahead of Trump’s scheduled sentencing in a New York hush-money trial on Friday, following his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in May. He is also working to prevent the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report concerning other criminal investigations. During the press conference, federal judge Aileen Cannon temporarily blocked the release of Smith’s report regarding Trump’s classified documents case.
Trump criticized Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the New York case, labeling him as “crooked.” (Merchan has indicated that Trump is unlikely to face jail time during Friday’s sentencing.) Trump also lashed out at Smith, calling him a “deranged individual,” after Smith dismissed Trump’s two federal cases once he won the election.
Moreover, Trump confirmed he is considering pardons for numerous individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, including those charged with violent actions. “People that were doing some bad things weren’t prosecuted, and people that didn’t even walk into the building are in jail right now. So, we’ll be looking at the whole thing. But I’ll be making major pardons, yes,” Trump stated. This promise has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it could foster extremist behavior and undermine the legal system.
