During World War II, the U.S. built military bases in Greenland to protect it from Germany. Today our European allies, including Germany, are sending troops to Greenland to protect it from the U.S.

President Donald Trump claims that seizing Greenland is the only way to keep China and Russia from doing the same. The best way to ensure Greenland’s security, as well as our own, is to work with our allies instead of against them.

The U.S. has a military base in Greenland and is allowed to have more under a treaty signed in 1951. Greenland is also protected by a NATO security guarantee that requires all members to respond if one of them is attacked.

Trump’s belligerence is risking the demise of the most successful alliance in history — one that allowed us to win the Cold War and came to our aid after 9/11. He’s also doing a huge favor to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, who see a weakening of the West as crucial to their territorial ambitions in Europe and Southeast Asia.

— Mike Mosser, Chicago

Trump’s confusing ways

Since the new year has begun, a number of President Donald Trump’s statements and actions demonstrate confusion and contradiction.

First, when it comes to Greenland. Trump has said just because Denmark landed a ship there 500 years ago doesn’t mean it has a right to the land. In approximately the same historical time frame, English ships landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Jamestown, Virginia. Those colonists declared that the land was now theirs. So by Trump’s logic, if Denmark has no real claim to Greenland, by what right do we have a claim to American soil?

Second, Trump condemns Iranian leaders for the shooting of demonstrators. He threatens reprisals if they do not immediately cease. Compare that to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. She was lawfully demonstrating and, despite how Vice President JD Vance, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others want to spin it, she was not threatening the ICE agents involved. Simply watch the videos and listen to the audio. Good was not disrespectful to the ICE agents and was not part of some mythical left-wing terrorist group. She backed up her car and was trying to escape the situation of which she was not the intended target. For that, she was shot, and the Trump administration deems it justified. ICE agents should do their jobs in a lawful way. They have not been given the right to become Judge Dredd.

Third, Trump says he has lowered pharmaceutical prices by as much as 1,500%. Even a middle school student understands that is mathematically impossible. If a prescription costs $60, lowering it by 50% then means it costs $30. Lowering it by 100% means you are paying nothing.

Fourth, in a White House meeting with oil executives on how to rebuild the Venezuelan oil industry, Trump stopped mid-meeting, got up and walked over to a window. He gazed out over the demolished East Wing and started to describe his vision of the new ballroom and how “beautiful” it is going to be. When he returned to his seat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discreetly slipped him a note to get back on point. Trump then read the note out loud. I wonder how Fox News would have framed this had Joe Biden been filmed demonstrating similar behavior.

These are just a few of Trump’s statements that confuse me.

— Tom Smoucha, Arlington Heights

What do 75% of us do?

I read a poll recently that said 75% of Americans disagree with President Donald Trump trying to take Greenland. He doesn’t care. He has said the only thing that can stop his international ambitions are his morals, and we know he has none.

So my question is: If he takes the United States into a war with our NATO allies over Greenland, what will/can we 75% of Americans do? Will we blindly follow because it is our country at war?

— George Recchia, Oak Park

Denied his validation

I guess no one should be surprised by President Donald Trump essentially saying, “You wouldn’t give me the Peace Prize, so now I want Greenland.”

Reminds me of playing ball when I was a young girl and my team was winning: “It’s my ball, so I’m taking it and going home.”

— Virginia Dare McGraw, Naperville

Trump’s focus is wise

Artificial intelligence wars are on the horizon. Direct access to rare earth elements and other minerals profusely abundant in Greenland is crucial to AI. That’s the ticket.

President Donald Trump wisely wants to acquire Greenland for the rare earth elements, for national security and the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system.

And, because it’s a lead pipe cinch, China and Russia are angling to control Greenland.

— David N. Simon, Chicago

Claims put in perspective

President Donald Trump claims to have “stopped eight wars” in his current term and therefore should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Let’s put this in perspective.

He didn’t. Most of the conflicts either were not wars or haven’t been stopped or neither is the case.
The prize is not a quid pro quo for a count of achievements, even real ones; it’s based on overall contributions to world peace. Trump has done as much to create or encourage conflict as to bully other nations into temporary ceasefires. Such as: siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine; supporting Israel’s violations of international law; dismantling U.S. programs that reduce starvation, disease and thus the risk of war; bombing Iran; attacking civilian ships on the high seas; invading Venezuela and kidnapping its president; threatening use of force against an ally, Denmark, in order to seize its territory and punishing other allies for not supporting this blatantly uncivilized behavior, etc.
Most of these actions were taken without constitutional authority. Because the sycophantic, loyalist elements in Congress refuse to do their constitutional duty, Trump has filled the void and become effectively a dictator.

Every major international involvement has been closely tied to Trump’s desires to grab valuable assets or to satisfy a potent U.S. political faction.

Against this background, Trump recently sent a message to the Norwegian prime minister saying that because Norway did not award him the Peace Prize, “I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” as if he ever did, and challenging in absurd terms Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland.

At the same time, his attacks on American democracy have become increasingly egregious: his weaponization of government to seek vengeance against individuals, cities and states that oppose him, blatantly unconstitutional attacks on free speech, trashing of the best aspects of the civil service system, attempts to make the government officially Christian, uncontrolled violence against lawful residents and citizens; etc.

This is the behavior of a small child — but not one you would let your children play with. He has made the U.S., formerly the symbol of democracy and stability, one of the most despised, and certainly the most feared, nations on earth.

What will it take for the decent Americans who remain in Congress to do their duty and remove him?

— Steven Gruenwald, Schaumburg

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/22/letters-012226-greenland/