On April 9, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social: “NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
The outburst connected two running threads: Trump's fury at NATO allies for refusing to join his Iran war, and his ongoing pursuit of Greenland — a Danish autonomous territory. At a White House press conference, Trump told reporters: “It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland. We want Greenland. They don't want to give it to us. And I said, 'bye, bye.'”
The same day, Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said NATO had “turned their backs on the American people.” Rutte acknowledged the rift, telling CNN: “He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point.”
The Pentagon timed leaks about seeking three additional military bases in Greenland — the first U.S. expansion there in decades. Analysts described it as designed to intimidate Denmark, not as a genuine invasion plan. Meanwhile, the two-week Iran ceasefire was already collapsing — Iran's parliamentary speaker said Washington had violated the terms within 24 hours, and Israel launched its heaviest strikes yet on Lebanon.
Trump is using the NATO alliance's refusal to join a war he started without congressional authorization as leverage to pursue territorial acquisition of an allied nation's territory — while the ceasefire he announced is already falling apart.
The fixation resurfaced at the top of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, 2026. Asked about the dispute, Trump said Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” arguing it is “surrounded by China ships and Russian ships” and that Denmark “doesn't spend money to really help Greenland.” He again tied it to his grievance with the alliance, saying “that's what hurt my relationship with NATO,” and threatened to pull U.S. forces off the continent: “we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe.” NATO members had deployed troops to Greenland back in January 2026 as a precaution against exactly this pressure, and European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had pledged to keep “defending” Greenland's territorial integrity.
Update (October 2, 2026): The full Ankara remark, from the transcript of Trump's July 7 press session with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrived for the summit, ties the troop threat to Greenland and to European immigration: “We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because, as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago,” and, “If they're not careful with those two things, you're not going to have a Europe anymore.” Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, told CNBC, “Be more Arctic, be more cool.” British Chancellor Rachel Reeves: “The future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and of Denmark, and not up to the US president.” Asked aboard his plane whether he would pull more troops from Europe, Trump said, “I haven't made that final determination. A lot is gonna depend on Greenland,” adding, “And if we don't, maybe I will,” according to The New Republic.
No withdrawal order has followed. NBC News, citing current and former officials, reported in September that the Pentagon is weighing cutting about a third of U.S. troops in Europe, with a more drastic option of 40,000, and that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to decide by November 6. Trump announced a Greenland deal on September 18, and the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement on September 22 that, according to Stars and Stripes, could open two more sites to U.S. use. A separate 5,000-troop withdrawal from Germany is tracked in Trump Orders 5,000 Troops Out of Germany and Threatens 'A Lot Further' After Chancellor Merz Said the U.S. Is Being 'Humiliated' by Iran.