Donald Trump’s earlier remarks about purchasing Greenland have sparked widespread controversy
WASHINGTON, DC: Several months after President Donald Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, social media platforms became flooded with a viral rumor. The online claims alleged that an oil company connected to the president had unlawfully initiated drilling operations on the island nation. Given the immediate public backlash, the rumor warranted a thorough investigation.
Claim: Trump-linked company launches drilling operations in Greenland
The narrative began spreading across the internet, asserting that a business entity tied to Trump had moved into Greenland to set up unauthorized drilling sites.
A widely shared Facebook post claimed, “A Texas oil company with ties to Donald Trump just landed a dozen shipping containers of drilling equipment on Greenland’s remote eastern coast. They never got permission.”
The post continued, “Greenland’s government issued a ‘strong warning’ that no approval had been granted. But Greenland Energy, a company set up last year with chairman Larry Swets enjoying access to Trump’s inner circle, pushed forward anyway.”
It concluded with the statement, “An American company lands equipment on foreign soil without permission, lies about having approval, and the sitting president posts memes threatening to take the whole island. Trump is making the USA a villain in real time.”
Fact Check: The allegation is partially accurate
While a firm called Greenland Energy did transport equipment related to a proposed oil project—prompting an official warning from the local government—no actual drilling has taken place.
Furthermore, the exact nature of any ties between Donald Trump or his administration and the company’s operations in Greenland remains unverified.
Consequently, the claim is best classified as a mix of factual events, falsehoods, and unverified assertions.
The rumor originated from a legitimate news story regarding a prospective oil exploration venture in eastern Greenland’s Jameson Land. A company representative, Robert Price, maintained that they had authorization to bring the equipment ashore, though the Greenlandic Ministry of Resources explicitly disputed this claim.
Donald Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland
Trump first brought up the prospect of acquiring Greenland earlier this year, an idea that sparked significant backlash and created friction with NATO allies.
Back in January, Trump rejected alternatives like long-term leases or defense pacts, arguing that complete American sovereignty—specifically “right, title and ownership”—was necessary to properly defend the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
“You can’t defend it on a lease,” Trump remarked at the time. “Legally, it’s not defensible that way. And psychologically, who wants to defend a license agreement?”