Stephen Miller Says Greenland Should ‘Obviously’ Be Part of the United States

Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Donald Trump, pulled no punches when he asserted on Monday that Greenland belonged to the United States and that the Trump administration could take control of semiautonomous Danish territory if it wanted to.

Stephen Miller Remarks That The U.S. Can Take Greenland

Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, reinforced the administration’s position during a televised appearance earlier this week. He questioned Denmark’s claim to the territory and suggested that the sheer scale of American power would preclude any physical resistance.

Speaking to Jake Tapper regarding the potential for conflict on CNN,  Miller said, “Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”

Miller further argued that the United States, as the primary power within the NATO alliance, has a responsibility to secure the Arctic region. The administration contends that Denmark is unable to adequately defend the vast, resource-rich island against modern threats. This perspective has led to a directive for the State Department to analyze the island’s untapped resources, which reportedly include significant deposits of rare earth minerals essential for technology and defense manufacturing.

The leaders of Greenland and Denmark have unsurprisingly rejected Trump’s insistence on taking Greenland by force. Although Trump has argued that taking Greenland is necessary for security needs, European leaders have rallied behind Greenland and Denmark in resisting Trump’s renewed fixation. The Danish Prime Minister’s office shared a statement on Tuesday in response to the Trump administration’s assertion on Greenland.

Leaders that included, Italy, France, Germany, and others, said in their joint statement: “NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries.

Economic and Strategic Motivations

Sitting between North America, Europe, and Russia, the island is viewed as a vital checkpoint for monitoring Arctic maritime traffic. As ice caps recede due to climate change, new shipping lanes and resource extraction opportunities are opening up, making the territory increasingly valuable.

According to reports, the State Department recently provided lawmakers with an assessment of the island’s mineral wealth. While the harsh climate and lack of infrastructure pose significant hurdles to extraction, the potential for securing a domestic supply of critical minerals remains a key driver for the administration. However, the path to acquisition is complicated by international law and the sovereign rights of the people living there. Its government has repeatedly stated that the island is open for business but is not for sale.

Bipartisan Concern in Washington

The administration’s rhetoric has also drawn criticism from within the United States Congress, bridging the partisan divide. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern that threatening a NATO ally could undermine global stability and damage U.S. credibility.

Republican Representative Don Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, publicly urged the administration to cease its pursuit of the territory, noting that the U.S. already maintains a military presence there at Thule Air Base. 

Bacon and other defense-focused Republicans argue that alienating Denmark yields no strategic upside. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis, co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, issued a joint statement reaffirming the partnership with Denmark.

 They warned that subjecting an ally to external pressure violates the core principles of self-determination that the alliance was built to defend. Despite the pushback, the White House appears to be moving forward with its assessment. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic channels attempt to address the rift while the administration weighs its next steps in the Arctic.