Trump mocked over Greenland purchase by Danish PM in stunning attack – 'Absolutely absurd'

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. Ms Frederiksen told the newspaper Sermitsiaq during a visit to Greenland that she strongly hopes “that this is not meant seriously”.

Trump confirmed to reporters on Sunday that he had recently discussed the possibility, though he said such a move was not an immediate priority.

“The concept came up and strategically, it’s interesting,” Trump told reporters from the tarmac in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to board Air Force One.

“It is not No.1 on the burner, I can tell you that.”

Trump is due to visit Copenhagen early next month, when the Arctic will be on the agenda in meetings with Ms Frederiksen and Prime Minister Kim Kielsen of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

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White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday initially confirmed media reports earlier in the week that Trump had privately discussed with his advisers the idea of buying Greenland.

“I don’t want to predict an outcome. I’m just saying the president, who knows a thing or two about buying real estate, wants to take a look at a Greenland purchase,” Mr Kudlow told Fox News.

Mr Kudlow said the situation was “developing” and noted that US President Harry Truman also had wanted to buy Greenland.

“And Denmark owns Greenland, Denmark is an ally, Greenland is a strategic place, up there. And they’ve got a lot of valuable minerals,” Kudlow added.

A defence treaty between Denmark and the United States dating back to 1951 gives the U.S. military rights over the Thule Air Base in northern Greenland.

Greenland, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is dependent on Danish economic support. It handles its own domestic affairs while Copenhagen looks after defense and foreign policy.

“It’s an absurd discussion, and Kim Kielsen has of course made it clear that Greenland is not for sale. That’s where the conversation ends,” Ms Frederiksen told the Danish broadcaster DR.

On Friday, Greenland’s foreign minister, Ane Lone Bagger, said: “We are open for business, but we’re not for sale.”

source: express.co.uk