# Trump now wants to use military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691 "2025-01-07T20:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/361 "2025-03-29T03:57:55Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” in now way takes the use of military force off the table. It’s also coming from somebody who at one time compared his current boss (who he now publicly venerates) to Hitler. Perhaps not the best idea to take the word of such a person at face value. Or, forget the ‘perhaps’. Vance has been caught out on so many falsehoods and self-serving comments in the past year alone, it is idiocy to even consider accepting anything he says publicly or privately as resembling the truth unless one has independent verification. And even then… ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/362 "2025-03-29T08:12:24Z")
You know, this is interesting, bearing in mind that Trump has said that nobody knows if Denmark really owns Greenland. [![](https://videnskab.dk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amerikansk-anderkendelse-af-dansk-suveraenitet-1-767x1024.jpg.webp) ](https://videnskab.dk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amerikansk-anderkendelse-af-dansk-suveraenitet-1-767x1024.jpg.webp) The original is scanned in Rigsarkivet: > **[Arkivalieronline - Rigsarkivet](https://arkivalieronline.rigsarkivet.dk/da/billedviser?epid=20072706#517391,54118464)** > > Arkivalieonline – Se originale dokumenter på nettet ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/363 "2025-03-29T09:36:53Z")
[Now with extra creepiness:](https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-media-shocked-jd-vance-223658845.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAldyC0PniNIgwKNQ8Y8Gu6gQ7vGh-CWM-cbvlpHRJL1JCbqKe28vi-nqT-2e9Fdd-uUgh1VFzkJd0hNSbaiT_jwqhdTmswuy6C3D5D97xwgKkSGjpCh_gGO1TSXwvOmWRLyySy0rmYcHCklwQn46vxoyAoOpkkL2dkOJjJWaHSf) > [@](#): > > “The president said we have to have Greenland, and I think that we do have to be more serious about the security of Greenland,” Vance said. “We can’t just ignore this place. We can’t just ignore the president’s desires, but, most importantly, we can’t ignore what I said earlier [about] the Russian and Chinese encroachment in Greenland. We have to do more.” “The President’s desires” ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/364 "2025-03-29T11:40:21Z")
The Danish Foreign Minister has a short message to USA. It is on Xitter too, but- [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHwvzw5tsu-/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/DHwvzw5tsu-/?hl=en) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/365 "2025-03-29T12:36:20Z")
Ayup. In a way, it’s the abject refusal to make a **[Shermansque statement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shermanesque_statement)** on an issue of existential importance to an _infinitely_ weaker sovereign nation. As I’m fond of saying, it’s MAGA diplomacy at the point of a Tomahawk missile, or: > Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I’ll most likely kill you in the morning. – [**The Princess Bride**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNzi2edJmfc) It really is [**Mr. McElroy Goes to Washington**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_McElroy). [I like my Scotch single-malt and my metaphors _very well_ mixed] ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/366 "2025-03-29T13:23:38Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > The Danish Foreign Minister has a short message to USA. It is on Xitter too, but- > > [Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Instagram: "Dear American friends. We agree that status quo in the Arctic is not an option. So let’s talk about how we can fix it - together. Lars Løkke Rasmussen Danish Foreign Minister"](https://www.instagram.com/p/DHwvzw5tsu-/?hl=en) I don’t mean this as a criticism of the foreign minister. He did what he had to. But what he did was textbook sanewashing. As for Vance saying that the U.S. will respect the desires of the Greenlandic people, this was only meant in the unlikely event that the Greenlanders want to become a U.S. colony. Given his druthers, Vance is an isolationist. But his boss is a national greatness conservative who wants colonies. If Trump falls enough in the polls, he may go along with what Lars Rasmussen suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/367 "2025-03-29T13:58:18Z")
You are probably right. The Danish and Greenlandic governments have tried to soften all this wartalk from the Trump regime. This is one of the most confrontational answers they have come up with. It wouldn’t do any good to answer back in kind. Remember Trump 45’s reaction when Mette Frederiksen just laughed and called buying Greenland “absurd”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/368 "2025-03-29T14:05:35Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > he Danish Foreign Minister has a short message to USA. It is on Xitter too, but- Not especially short, and no indication of how long it is, so I didn’t watch the whole thing. But I gather the guy is saying that the U.S. can have more bases there if we ask nicely and don’t invade them. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/369 "2025-03-29T14:16:45Z")
People are quoting the words coming out of the couchfucker’s piehole as if anything he said was related to policy when he’s as far out of the loop as everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/370 "2025-03-29T14:21:33Z")
Three minutes.Trust me, for him it’s short. I think his point is that we have had an agreement since '51 and that USA have cut more than Denmark. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/371 "2025-03-29T14:26:33Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” Why in the HELL that is a statement concerning Greenland coming out of anyone’s mouth is pure insanity. The crazy just keeps on coming. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/372 "2025-03-29T14:37:22Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > This is one of the most confrontational answers they have come up with “We’d be entirely happy to let the USA, which is now talking about taking us over, station another 16 military bases and multiple thousands of troops on our territory” is confrontational? ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/373 "2025-03-29T14:52:31Z")
weeeelll, the part with “I don’t care for the tone” of your threats is a bit. It would be lovely if the Danish government closed the embassy in Copenhagen and the consulate in Nuuk, but how long would it take before we was defeated and occupied. I think the plan is to delay for three years and ten months. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/374 "2025-03-29T15:04:01Z")
If we’re so concerned about the security of Greenland in regards to possible Russian or Chinese aggression, perhaps it would make sense to form some sort of defense pack, a treaty with our North Atlantic friends in Europe perhaps, promising to come to one another’s aid when threatened? If such a treaty existed, perhaps the United States would be permitted to base their military forces in places like Greenland or mainland Europe where we all have mutual defensive interests? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/375 "2025-03-29T15:11:16Z")
Now you’re just talking crazy. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/376 "2025-03-29T15:15:27Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > weeeelll, the part with “I don’t care for the tone” of your threats is a bit. I will grant that the “we are part of NATO” is a bit, also. Nevertheless, “we’ll let you station your invasion troops all over our territory in preparation for the invasion” strikes me as very much the reverse. I agree that “stall for three years and ten months and hope there actually is an election and/or that Trump is dead by then” very likely is part of the strategy. Vance would be utterly nasty back home, if in a somewhat different fashion; but he might not try to take on wars on multiple fronts simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/377 "2025-03-29T16:37:25Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Nevertheless, “we’ll let you station your invasion troops all over our territory in preparation for the invasion” strikes me as very much the reverse. But USA have had that permission since world war two, later ratified in 1951 and then (I’m writing this from memory, I may be off a year or two) in 1992 with the Greenland government. Trump have probably forgotten, but there is no need to threaten to invade. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/378 "2025-03-29T19:09:54Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > there is no need to threaten to invade Of course there isn’t. Trump appears to be doing it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/379 "2025-03-29T21:06:57Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > Trump have probably forgotten, but there is no need to threaten to invade. He doesn’t care about the military issues, he just wants the territory. ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/380 "2025-03-30T01:15:09Z")
What pretext might Trump (may he be forever cursed) use to “justify” a military invasion? Insulting the U.S.A.; Americans in danger; It was actually our territory to begin with; Valuable resources; etc. What might he come up with in his fevered, tiny brain to start his fascist blitzkrieg? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=20)