Trump does not rule out taking Greenland by force

President Trump declined to rule out using military force to take Greenland when pressed in a Sunday interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”

“Something could happen with Greenland. I'll be honest. We need that for national and international security,” Trump told moderator Kristen Welker. “I think it's highly unlikely.”

“I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything. No, not there,” Trump added.

“We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people which we’ll take care of and we’ll cherish them and all of that, but we need that for international security.”

But Trump all but ruled out using the U.S. military to take Canada.

“I think we're not going to ever get to that point,” Trump said, adding, “I don't see it with Canada. I just don't see it. I have to be honest with you.”

Trump has publicly mused about taking over Greenland and about making Canada the 51st state.

Trump’s threats played a major role in last week's federal election in Canada, where Prime Minister Mark Carney, who in recent months has pushed back on Trump, was elected.