# 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:** 45
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/881 "2026-01-21T09:42:02Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > . “Once you pay the Danegeld, you’re never rid of the Dane”. With the somewhat ironic fact that Donald is offering to buy an entire Danish territory. (… Or else…) ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/882 "2026-01-21T10:25:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > These are not bright people. These are people who have lost their way in life and are either extremely disturbed or completely insane. OMG yes! I also think that the only really motivating thing for Trump is the thought of maps that actually are like this version that he’s been circulating: [Trump posts map with U.S. flag over Canada and Greenland](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/trump-shares-altered-map-of-us-flag-covering-canada-greenland-and-venezuela/) ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/883 "2026-01-21T11:18:55Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > I also think that the only really motivating thing for Trump is the thought of maps that actually are like this version that he’s been circulating: [Trump posts map with U.S. flag over Canada and Greenland](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/trump-shares-altered-map-of-us-flag-covering-canada-greenland-and-venezuela/) That, and the fact that he’s been publicly told he can’t have it. He’s never been able to deal with being told “no” or denied something he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/884 "2026-01-21T11:44:12Z")
Things are so surreal these days that I genuinely thought at first Trump was showing that image of the US flag over Canada and Greenland in the Oval Office while seated in the presence of Macron and all the other European leaders. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/885 "2026-01-21T13:22:25Z")
Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent (earlier, fighting valiantly to remain a ‘grown-up in the room’), has apparently now reached his Minimum Recommended Daily Allowance of Kool-Aid and is ready to be public-facing and stay on message: > **[Denmark is ‘irrelevant’, says Scott Bessent](https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-irrelevant-us-donald-trump-treasury-chief-scott-bessent/)** > > Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary swats away concern about Europe possibly using the bond market to pressure Washington as it threatens Greenland. > [@](#): > > U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Denmark was “irrelevant” and that he was not concerned about Europe pulling out of the U.S. government bond market, amid fears of U.S. President Donald Trump annexing Greenland and imposing new tariffs. > > “Denmark’s investment in U.S. Treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant,” Bessent told journalists in Davos on Wednesday morning. “They’ve been selling treasuries for years. I am not concerned at all.” It used to famously be said about John Bolton that he “kicked _down_ and kissed _up._” We now have an entire administration and majority party in Congress working from that playbook. I can’t bring myself to watch Trump in Davos … if he ever eventually got there. Lovely. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/886 "2026-01-21T14:15:38Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I can’t bring myself to watch Trump in Davos … if he ever eventually got there. I’m watching it despite my better judgment. He must be making the _entire_ audience throw up in their mouths. He’s such a sick, ruined, broken man. And though he’s now implying he will _not_ use force to take Greenland – along with endless boasts about himself – he’s reinforcing the notion that we must and will take Greenland. _“It’s almost impossible to believe he exists. It’s as if we took everything that was bad about America, scraped it up off the floor, wrapped it all up in an old hot dog skin, and then taught it to make noises with its face.”_ –Anthony Citrano ETA: He also can’t keep straight that Iceland != Greenland. It’s just pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/887 "2026-01-21T14:21:44Z")
This speech… someone needs to swap out the nuclear football with a fake. ---
**Author:** ![stopnonstop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@stopnonstop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stopnonstop)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/888 "2026-01-21T14:55:29Z")
A tale of two speeches in Davos. Carney’s was measured, considered and a clear but stark assessment of global affairs. Trump? WTF?! How can people sit there and listen to the shit he spews. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/889 "2026-01-21T15:24:36Z")
The big headline right now is “Trump says he won’t use force to take Greenland”. I hope people realize that if he is lying (as is his habit), we don’t get a refund. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/890 "2026-01-21T18:14:45Z")
As I said in another thread, I translate the “won’t use force” to mean “I’ll just send troops.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/891 "2026-01-21T20:07:30Z")
He has concepts of a plan. > **[Trump touts mysterious 'framework' of a deal for Greenland](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-announcement-greenland/)** > > President Donald Trump claimed to have a "framework of a future deal" regarding Greenland without saying whether it would become part of the United States as he had vowed it would."Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the... [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreiglabj6zgf4nopotz67dwy6wvdk3avo7wu4f6l5kr3ynwvbqi3euy@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreiglabj6zgf4nopotz67dwy6wvdk3avo7wu4f6l5kr3ynwvbqi3euy@jpeg) IOW, he’s chickening out. (No, autocorrect, I was NOT trying to type “thickening”.) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/892 "2026-01-21T20:16:38Z")
Translation, no Greenland, no tariffs, no war, throw a tantrum for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/893 "2026-01-21T20:18:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Translation, no Greenland, no tariffs, no war, and the DJIA goes up 650 points ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/894 "2026-01-21T20:22:40Z")
> **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcxie4uylj26)** > > COLLINS: Does it include the US having ownership of Greenland? > > TRUMP: It's a long term deal. It's the ultimate long term deal > > COLLINS: How long is it? > > TRUMP: Infinite. There is no time limit. It's a deal that's forever. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcxijacyfn2q)** > > Trump: "We have a concept of a deal. I think it's gonna be a very good deal for the United States. Also for them. And we're gonna work together on something having to do with the arctic as a whole, but also Greenland. And it has to do with the... They absolutely got him to agree to status quo. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/895 "2026-01-21T20:27:54Z")
Step 1. Cause international crisis Step 2. Back down when face-to-face with actual world leaders Step 3. Claim you’re a diplomatic genius Step 4. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/896 "2026-01-21T20:29:17Z")
This whole episode has squandered what little trust Trump had left with Europe, NATO and the rest of the democratic world. All for nothing. Or perhaps to distract from the Epstein files (in which mission accomplished). ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/897 "2026-01-21T20:36:16Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Step 1. Cause international crisis > Step 2. Back down when face-to-face with actual world leaders > Step 3. Claim you’re a diplomatic genius > Step 4. Profit! Step 0. Sell stocks Step 1.a. Stock market drops, buy stocks back at lower price you created Step 4. Profit! For real. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/898 "2026-01-21T20:51:21Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I can’t help wondering if Bruno Ganz and the other actors are getting any sort of repeat fee for those parodies… Off-topic, but Ganz died in 2019. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/899 "2026-01-21T21:25:37Z")
[![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nSUAAOSwK-9oO4ha/s-l1200.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nSUAAOSwK-9oO4ha/s-l1200.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/900 "2026-01-21T21:30:28Z")
Makes me wonder if there’s a European copy of the Epstein files. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=46)