An inside look at President Trump's campaign to acquire Greenland

Donald Trump’s persistent, often clandestine, ambition to acquire Greenland from Denmark has evolved from a casual suggestion into a serious geopolitical strain. Driven by a desire for territorial ownership and perceived strategic advantages, the administration established a secret National Security Council task force to subvert Danish control. These efforts included failed influence operations, such as attempts to recruit local support with gifts and promises of wealth, and the construction of a massive U.S. consulate in Nuuk. The rhetoric surrounding a potential military takeover became so alarming that European allies, fearing an invasion similar to the U.S. action in Venezuela, deployed troops to Greenland to deter aggression. New Yorker staff writer Ben Taub details how these maneuvers have damaged trust with allies, caused significant psychological distress among Greenlanders, and created a precarious standoff between the United States and its NATO partners.