Trump wants Greenland?

Three cheers for the Danes!

I wonder why he wants it?

So, Mr Trump, what first attracted you to the oil-rich, mineral-rich island of Greenland?

Trump never wanted Greenland. He simply wanted a way out of a State visit to Denmark where he would almost certainly be ridiculed in the press and which, he had just discovered, was to be followed by a visit by Obama who wouldn't be.

He has the instincts of a colonialist entrepreneur, like the ones who opened up new lands and trade routes in the prevous few centuries. What he doesn't have is any sense of responsibility toward the comparatively innocent inhabitants of those rich lands. They are just seams of wealth to be mined, exploited and left to perish.

Yes, we said that earlier in the thread, GracesgranMk3

Callistemon Yes, we said that earlier in the thread, GracesgranMk3

So? Has it stopped being true since then?

I saw a wee bit of this on the news, but was rushing between tasks. A half hour rant in which he described himself as the chosen one. There's something more going on here than being upset at being outstaged by Obama in Denmark.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/21/trump-press-conference-greenland-jewish-democrats

Trump has been up to something since that strange "hop over the border" in Korea (and look where that's got him...and us all) but I do think if he was a relative of mine, I'd be taking him to the doctor for a check-up before letting him operate machinery or drive a car.

The memoir books that eventually come out from his staff are going to make interesting reading in future.

...and this is the guy who is going to give us a "great" deal post Brexit. Urk!

Didn't former Presidents havre this same idea about Greenland? I think I heard that on the news. Apparently the idea isn't so outrageous as it seems at first sight.

The Greenland woman (president?) did use extremely undiplomatic language in her answer, saying it was "absurd". That wasn't necessary. Can't blame him for not wanting to go on the visit after that!

The rant where he pointed to the sky and said that he was the chosen one was in connection with trade wars with China. He claims that the Us are winning that one.

Since when did "absurd" become undiplomatic?

Anyone given any consideration to the Greenlanders. Personally I would hate to become part of the USA.

living in what must be pretty unpleasant circumstances, many would consider that described living in the USA.

As for comparing it with the Louisiana purchase in 1803. That was a time when slavery was still considered a reasonable proposition and the Louisiana purchase involved a colonising power outside the continent selling land to a country already estalished by the descendants of another colonising power. Greenland is an autonomous part of Denmark. Countries do not sell large parts of the home country to others.

He wants the UK too - and at this rate, he'll get it.

how about a trade...straight across Trump and all of his associates for Greenland?

Why so rude all the time Gracesgran? On most threads and to so many posters?
Genuine question.

I was just agreeing with you and pointing out it had been mentioned up thread.

The U.S. bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark and Alaska from the Russians.......

But not recently.

I personally think he's unhinged. His rages, rants and demands get more outrageous.

I tend to reply in the way I am spoken to Callistemon. Do you think you were posting in the height of good manners in your Thu 22-Aug-19 10:11:18 post? Either I knew and was repeating the information for a purpose or I didn't know but what good does it do telling me at that point other than to irritate.

The way you put it did not make it sound as if you were agreeing or reinforcing what I was saying, just nit-picking. That may not be what you intended but in that case you didn't make what you did intend clear. I apologise for not being a mind reader.

Apology accepted.

Donald Trump isn’t the first American president to make a bid for Greenland. Andrew Jackson floated the idea in 1831 while Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in 1946.

People did lots of things in 1831 which would not be usual now. For instance, it was not until 1865 that the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States. A whole couintry and its population being sold to the highest bidder would come very close to that - and one comment that each inhabitant getting $XXXX would be tempting forgets that the inhabitants not would be the sellers but a part of the merchandise.

And 1946?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Truman's offer to Denmark in 1946 must have been a postwar aberration. The almighty dollar rules.

Maybe the US was in an expansionist financial mood after lending £4.3 billion to the Uk under Lease and Lend. The equivalent was worth about £27 billion in 2006, when the last instalment was finally repaid. A historic currency I found on Google calculated that that would be about £187 billion today. and the 2% annual interest had more or less doubled that amount in the repayments, Not sure I believe I've got those sums right!

www.politics.co.uk/news/2006/12/29/britain-finally-pays-off-wwii-debt