President-elect Donald Trump stirred controversy on Tuesday by leaving open the possibility of using military force to claim territories such as Greenland and the Panama Canal—an idea he has hinted at since his election triumph.
At a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago, Trump responded to inquiries about his stance on military intervention by stating, “It might be that you’ll have to do something.” He added, “I can’t assure you—you’re talking about Panama and Greenland—no, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security.”
He further escalated tensions by warning Denmark of potential high tariffs if they do not willingly cede Greenland to the U.S., raising doubts about Denmark’s legal ownership of the island. “Many people don’t even know if Denmark has any legal claim to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” Trump claimed. Both Danish and Greenlandic officials have firmly stated that the island is not for sale, while Panama’s president has made it clear that the Panama Canal is not negotiable. Trump has reiterated his desire to regain control of the canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a treaty negotiated by former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29. Trump has criticized this arrangement, alleging that Panama has “overcharged” the U.S. for access and that their control of the canal threatens American interests.
Although Trump hasn’t elaborated extensively on his territorial ambitions, his remarks on Tuesday provided a glimpse into his vision for reshaping U.S. geopolitical dynamics. He even jested that Canada might want to think about becoming the 51st state, insisting that any influence on Canada would be applied through economic pressure rather than military action. “That would really be something,” Trump mused. “You eliminate that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security.”
Moreover, Trump expressed his desire to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, describing it as “a beautiful name,” and announced plans to impose significant tariffs on both Mexico and Canada.
This press conference, which followed Congress officially certifying his election victory, marked Trump’s second since his November 5 win. He began by unveiling a multibillion-dollar initiative to construct data centers across the U.S., financed by investors from Dubai, touting it as a “great thing” for American progress in technology and artificial intelligence. With less than two weeks before his second inauguration, Trump made an urgent appeal for Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, warning that “all hell will break out” if the approximately 100 hostages are not freed before January 20. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, suggested that a resolution regarding the hostages’ release is imminent.
However, the atmosphere shifted as Trump began addressing his political adversaries, particularly focusing on President Joe Biden and the legal challenges he faces from multiple investigations.
Trump’s remarks illustrated a President-elect determined to navigate what he views as obstacles to his agenda as he prepares to take office. “We are inheriting a difficult situation from the outgoing administration, and they’re trying everything they can to make it more challenging,” he stated, criticizing Biden’s final actions in office, including an executive order that halted oil and gas drilling on 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. “I’m going to put it back on day one,” he vowed.
These comments came just ahead of Trump’s scheduled sentencing in a New York hush-money trial on Friday, following his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in May. He is also working to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report concerning other criminal investigations. During the press conference, federal judge Aileen Cannon temporarily halted the release of Smith’s report regarding Trump’s classified documents case.
Trump criticized Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the New York case, branding him as “crooked.” (Merchan has indicated that Trump is unlikely to face jail time during Friday’s sentencing.) Trump also directed his ire at Smith, calling him a “deranged individual” after Smith dismissed his two federal cases once Trump won the election.
Additionally, Trump confirmed he is considering pardons for many individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including some charged with violent actions. “People who did some bad things weren’t prosecuted, and people who didn’t even enter the building are in jail right now. So, we’ll be looking at the whole thing. But I’ll be making major pardons, yes,” Trump stated. This commitment has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it could incite extremist actions and undermine the legal system.
