# 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:** 9
**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:** [January 11, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/161 "2025-01-11T15:30:27Z")
I don’t even think it’s that specific. His strategy is to _constantly_ flood the zone with shit because that’s what he’s good at and it’s worked for him this far. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/162 "2025-01-11T15:49:19Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > His strategy is to _constantly_ flood the zone with shit because that’s what he’s good at and it’s worked for him this far. Yeah, it isn’t even really a strategy so much as it is just a reflex at this point. A thought goes through what passes for his mind, and he has to share it because in his über-narcissist view of the world it is the most amazing notion that anyone has ever had in the history of the world snd must be celebrated with heaps of praise and maybe a rally, which is why he is so petulant when anyone criticizes him in any way. The same is true for Elon Musk, which is why they get along so well now and also why i expect a major falling out when they actually come to loggerheads on some topic. There is no real thought or plan behind it; it is just what they do, and then ignore the vast majority of promises and statements which turn out to be completely wrong or infeasible. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/163 "2025-01-11T17:21:18Z")
I think the media would do well to always look what the other hand is doing when one hand is doing something particularly outrageous. He’s always trying to distract from _something_. In this case he managed to dominate 2 or 3 news cycles with the Greenland bullshit when they otherwise would be about his sentencing. (Who am I kidding, the media isn’t trying to work against Trump in any meaningful way; they’re just “reporting” whatever they think their masters want to hear.) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/164 "2025-01-11T18:19:11Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > (Who am I kidding, the media isn’t trying to work against Trump in any meaningful way; they’re just “reporting” whatever they think their masters want to hear.) Chaos gets clicks. Stranger ---
**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:** [January 11, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/165 "2025-01-11T18:26:39Z")
I think trump getting his idea for Greenland, not from Putin and Ukraine, but from Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. A weaker nation that won’t put up much of a fight is the “thinking”. ---
**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 11, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/166 "2025-01-11T19:05:13Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > (Who am I kidding, the media isn’t trying to work against Trump in any meaningful way; they’re just “reporting” whatever they think their masters want to hear.) The media is almost entirely owned by giant corporations; it’s a given they take the right wing position. The idea of the “liberal media” has _always_ been a right wing propaganda line, not the reality. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/167 "2025-01-11T19:07:03Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I think trump getting his idea for Greenland, not from Putin and Ukraine, but from Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. A weaker nation that won’t put up much of a fight is the “thinking”. Which worked out so very well for Mussolini. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/168 "2025-01-12T02:11:40Z")
The Danes are wisely taking this seriously: [Axios: Denmark sent Trump team private messages on Greenland](https://www.axios.com/2025/01/11/denmark-response-trump-greenland-threat) > [@](#): > > Denmark sent private messages in recent days to President-elect [Trump’s](https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump) team expressing willingness to discuss boosting security in [Greenland](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/23/trump-buying-greenland-us-ownership-plan) or increasing the U.S. military presence on the island, two sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios. > > **Why it matters:** Trump’s [refusal to rule out](https://www.axios.com/2025/01/07/trump-press-conference-gulf-of-mexico-panama) military force to take control of Greenland was effectively a threat to invade a longstanding NATO ally. Those comments caught Copenhagen and many other European capitals off guard. The problem with the Danish response is that Trump does not want Greenland for military reasons, or for economic reasons. If he is serious about Greenland, he wants it for nationalist prestige reasons. I don’t see what you can offer him there. This isn’t to criticize the reported Danish approach. Counter bluster is not plausible when the U.S. has aircraft carriers and you do not. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/169 "2025-01-12T02:30:19Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If he is serious about Greenland, he wants it for nationalist prestige reasons. I don’t see what you can offer him there. Offer him Iceland instead. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/170 "2025-01-12T06:10:53Z")
If you are serious I’m not clear who you think should be offering him Iceland since it is an independent republic. If you are referencing the deceptive naming of Greenland by Erik the Red then I get it. Lulz. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/171 "2025-01-12T07:31:30Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > If you are serious I’m not clear who you think should be offering him Iceland since it is an independent republic. That’s the gag; con the conman. [A real Janet Colgate deal.](https://youtu.be/yMiJp1nYlNA?si=UbGglt9-sdDvnjTA) Lure him in for the kiss before he figures out that he’s been totally outmaneuvered. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/172 "2025-01-12T08:40:42Z")
I think the Denmark should offer to sell him Alaska;) Look how big it looks on a map! ---
**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:** [January 12, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/173 "2025-01-12T13:41:59Z")
For sure, any kind of action against Greenland or Panama would completely dominate the news. It would be 24/7. There would be little room for anything else the fucker is doing. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/174 "2025-01-12T13:47:36Z")
Perhaps the Danes should give him Legoland - playing with that should keep him busy for quite some time ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/175 "2025-01-12T14:22:52Z")
Atlantis is still up for grabs and existence ---
**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:** [January 12, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/176 "2025-01-12T15:18:41Z")
Wasn’t that one of his bankrupted casinos? ---
**Author:** ![Hurrilon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@Hurrilon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hurrilon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/177 "2025-01-13T15:27:42Z")
\ You might want to start reading more reliable news sources. You also might study some history. The USA has been attempting to obtain Greenland since 1868. But now Trump is in favor of it and the sky is apparently starting to fall as a result. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/178 "2025-01-13T15:38:03Z")
> [@Hurrilon](#): > > But now Trump is in favor of it and the sky is apparently starting to fall as a result Someone foolishly asked him if he ruled out using force and (predictably, given his abominable personality, to be fair) he has failed to. That’s what’s scandalous. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/179 "2025-01-13T15:42:41Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > If you are serious I’m not clear who you think should be offering him Iceland since it is an independent republic. Do you think Trump knows that? He’ll be halfway through invading before anyone even tries to tell him. Hey, screwing over your neighbour to save yourself has a long and noble history! ---
**Author:** ![StringsandHammers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stringsandhammers/32/17933_2.png) [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/180 "2025-01-13T15:53:37Z")
> [@Hurrilon](#): > > \ > > You might want to start reading more reliable news sources. You also might study some history. The USA has been attempting to obtain Greenland since 1868. But now Trump is in favor of it and the sky is apparently starting to fall as a result. What’s your point? The flat earth theory has also been around for hundreds of years doesn’t make it any less dumb. This won’t happen. Greenland is not for sale and has no interests in joining us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=10)