During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even Canada, citing their importance for U.S. economic and national security.
When asked about the possibility of using military or economic coercion, Trump responded,
“No, I can’t assure you on either of those two, but we need them for economic security.”
Trump suggested Denmark relinquish control of Greenland, allowing its citizens to vote for independence or join the United States. He also criticized former President Jimmy Carter for handing over the Panama Canal to Panama, calling it a “disgrace.”
Canada as the 51st State?
Trump clarified he would not use military force against Canada but proposed “economic force” to integrate the country into the U.S.
“You get rid of that artificially drawn line… it would be much better for national security,” Trump stated.
In recent social media posts, Trump called for Canada to become the 51st state and used Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of stepping down to support his stance.
Other Proposals and Criticisms
- Renaming the Gulf of Mexico: Trump proposed renaming it to the “Gulf of America,” claiming it would be more fitting and symbolic.
- Transition Criticism: Trump accused the Biden administration of blocking reforms and complicating the transition process ahead of his January 20 inauguration.
Looking Ahead
The press conference followed the U.S. Congress’s certification of Trump’s election victory. With 312 electoral votes, Trump will assume office again on January 20. Vice President-elect JD Vance and Kamala Harris were present during the official certification process.
